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Welcome to another week commencing.

This week has been a good one. Before Christmas I felt ready and raring to go. January it just disappeared. That get up and go fell between my fingers. I blamed the weather and the dark mornings and nights but it was a combo. Work has been a little tough recently and my weight plateaued. But recently I’ve felt the fog clearing. I even managed to go to the gym three days in a row this week. Hasn’t happened in months. But here’s a look at my week commencing Mar 20. (Plus there is a cheeky cover reveal at the bottom so keep reading!)

Dressing for my size.

If you’ve followed me on Twitter/Instagram you might have picked up that I recently lost quite a bit of weight. Almost 28 lbs. When you’ve spent the last 12 months attempting to hide your body in over-sized jumpers, sweatshirts and leggings it takes a while to re-group. As I lost weight, and my body slimmed my wardrobe didn’t. This Monday I pulled open several drawers and snatched out three dresses I had once loved. They all fitted. Two better than they had when they were bought. It’s been a week of re-discovery, and happiness. Every time I look in the mirror I feel just so much bladdy better. Before anyone tells me, your size shouldn’t re-define you. I KNOW. But, the Lizzy I saw for 12 months didn’t define me. The Lizzy I see staring back is the one I want to define.

Nice to have you back babe.

Week Commencing Mar 20: My Trainers

Yorkshire Provender Cauliflower Cheese Soup

This stuff is honestly LIT. I saw it on offer in Waitrose when I was VV hungover. I wanted a soup that felt like a hug and this just hit the spot. Creamy, not too high in calories and with the addition of kale it was honestly fantastic and just what I needed. I want to re-create this when I have a spare minute.#

Week Commencing Mar 20: Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Zyliss Hot Mug Cafetiere

T bought me one of these a couple of weeks ago but I hadn’t got round to using it. It is really fab. If you’re the kind of person that likes nice coffee but doesn’t want to spend a fortune a week forking out on Starbucks spend £6. Pick up this gorgeous cafetiere style mug and sip away. FULL post to come soon.

Week Commencing Mar 20: Coffee Mug

Do something that scares you

I bloody hate that phrase. Who really wants to do something that scares them? This week saying that I’ve been completely out of my comfort zone. Filming, photographing and interview ing students it’s been intense. Two days full of multiple shoots it was a lot of fun but mentally exhausting. Sayin’ that, can’t wait to do it again.

Week Commencing Mar 20: My Feet

But keep to you

I was invited out to food a number of times this week and although I don’t want to say I missed out – I didn’t want to mess up all the progress I had made. I want to press the point that I don’t stop myself from having fun because of food. Sometimes you just have to align it with your goals. Been to the gym four times in a row, don’t feel like chomping down on 2,000 cals worth of burgers. Then don’t.

Week Commencing Mar 20: Brekkie Crumpets

A Time to Die (Cover Reveal!)

Jonas Lee has a new cover reveal! (And it is G O R G E O U S.)

Jonas is a fantastic author and I have had the chance to read/review a number of his books and they are wonderful. Full of action, mystery all set in a fantastical setting. Well worth a look. I’ve included a blurb, author bio and links so go check it out. (Please.)

AMAZON

GOODREADS 

Carter Gabel saved his own life, and rescued his city from destruction. But, after the Pirates forced him into hiding, he spent years holed up in Crighton, city of ghosts.  Just as he thinks the world has forgotten him, a knock on the door interrupts his life and as he opens it, his next journey begins. An unexpected foe waits for him at the end to challenge everything he knows and all that his future holds. What must Carter do to survive? And what does he sacrifice to become a legend?

Author Bio:

Writing out of the Black Hills of South Dakota, Jonas likes coming up with new and creative worlds that speak to the plausible while remaining believable. With a fist-full of peanut M&Ms and a cup of coffee, he has written three novels about a snarky, supernatural teen able to time travel and more.

Beyond writing, Jonas has a gift for useless knowledge through watching trivia shows and a love for cinematic adventures. Music fuels his writing and you can see him with at least one earbud in every day.

That’s been my week – how was yours? 

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Hello,

Apologies for the silence last Monday (and yesterday.) I tend to leave these posts to write on Sunday but I was typically tired. Typically I have a love/hate relationship with Sunday’s. I know my body needs to rest by Sunday but if I lie around all day I have a bit of an existential crisis about not doing enough. If I run around all day Monday feels almost impossible. 1st world problems. But, hello I’m back. Here’s what happened last week.

Sunday Spring Clean

I did a Spring Clean on Sunday. First, I gutted the kitchen and cleaned it top to bottom. I took out all the trash from the bookcase then minimalised the stuff in our ‘walk in wardrobe.’ It’s basically a small space where the roof dips. T took on the bathroom and the house feels, fabby. Both of us are messy by trait but it feels so much better when it’s clear. Next I want to do a little more research into minimalism. But, all good for now.

Logan

T and I went to see Logan. It was fantastic, beautiful, excellent. I can’t put into words how much it moved me. I have been a big watcher of the X-men/Wolverine films and this one, might have been my favourite. Perfection.

Batchwood and good friends

I also went to St Albans to visit three wonderful friends. We all met through University and have kept visits up over the years. We wanted to celebrate St Paddy’s and that we bloody well did. Drinks, dancing and 90’s music. Staying up till 4am the hangover was real but it felt amazing. Not the hangover ^ seeing those gals. #babes.

Time with T

I’m going to get a little soppy again which is silly.

T and I had a rough week. You know those weeks where you set each off every couple of hours. Sunday it felt like we got whatever was going on out of our system. We spend the day cleaning/tidying and cooking and then exploring Greenwich and Pokemon hunting. (YES I KNOW.) We came home, watched The Great British Painting Challenge and then went on a 9.30pm trip to Sainsbury’s to buy chocolate pudding and beer. T was dressed like a homeless person, I was dressed in leggings and a My Little Pony Jumper. We chased each other down the street, giggling, making stupid voices and just being us. Because being US is best. He is everything.

Instagram

I’ve lost 8 followers this week and I only have 300 so that’s great. I’m blaming the haggis image I posted. (Recipe to come soon.)

 

Hope you have a wonderful week

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Hi guys and dolls.

I realised that last week, my week commencing’s have been a bit grumpy. It’s not that I’m having a shitty time, for some reason I’ve been grumbling. Really grumbling. I wanted to switch that around because, despite everything it’s been a great week. Here’s what happened.

World Book Day

It was world book day this week! It’s always a bit tough to dress up for WBD when you work in an office. But, I had too. I dressed up a pretty casual outfit of leggings and black blouse with my Harry Potter time-turner. My bestie Dani bought me this for Christmas last year and whenever I’m predicting a bad day I pop it on. It’s so beautiful and just fabby. Love it.

Harry Potter Time Turner Necklace

Peckham Salvage Yard 

T and I travelled to Peckham Salvage Yard this week. It was actually super lovely although smaller than I thought. I don’t think we were quite hipster enough, but the things being sold were wonderful. From cardigans to Penguin books to old toys it’s a brilliant place to browse. The next one is in July. Put it in your diary – you should totally go.

Vintage Penguin Books

Word of the Week

I’ve started sharing a word of the week on instagram. (You can follow me here.)  This weeks word is Ebullient which means both enthusiastic and lively.

Handwritten word Ebullient

Recipes with courgette (spiralising.)

Fell back in love with my spiraliser this week. I’ve been making a lot of courgetti recipes. Some with tomato sauces, a couple with egg and a new carbonara recipe that I’ll share soon(ish.) I want to spiralise more but it’s helping me cut evening carbs but stay super full. Plus, courgette is freaking delicious.

Courgetti Spaghetti

Dragonite

Finally evolved a Dratini. After the third from 10K eggs still without a super high IV,  I evolved a 80% Dratini. After burning through 100 candies and 100,000 star-dust, I bring you Dragonwin. He’s a beast. (Also I promise less Pokemon references.)

Pokemon Dragonite

There’s my week commencing – how was yours?

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Happy Monday everyone.

It’s been a long but brilliant week. I had a bit of a mind clearer on Saturday which I think I’ll write a post about soon. For now though, here’s what has made my week commencing Feb 20.

Coffee Eclairs

During the working week we had a coffee minute with the other teams in our building. We only moved to our new office block recently and haven’t had a chance to meet everyone. A couple of minutes to introduce ourselves and say hello was lavely. Oh, and they had the most incredible coffee cream eclairs. (Amazing to photograph too.)

Week Commencing Feb 20: Coffee Eclairs

Pokemon Go (Gen 2)

I am a biggggg Pokemon Go fan (still.) It’s been months since I deliberately went out but recently. We’ll I’m a bit re-obsessed. Favourites include Phanpy, Girafarig and Sudowoodo. Any other players in and around Greenwich hit a gal up? We could grab coffee and search for Tyranitar.

Week Commencing Feb 20: Pokemon Go Girafarig

Greenwich Open Days

Many will know I work for the University of Greenwich. I had the chance to take over the Universities Snapchat for a couple of hours during the open day and laved it. It makes me want to maybe try Instagram stories. Here’s a favourite photograph I took during the day.

Week Commencing Feb 20: Living Wall at Greenwich

Wordbrain

Favourite new app of the moment. Wordbrain is a word puzzle which asks you to find hidden words. You have a grid of letters and a number of words to find, but you have to do it in the right order. Oh, and find the correct words. It can seem impossible but it’s a fantastic mind mess. I’m currently only ranked as rat brain but I’m working through the puzzles one by one. I’ll get to the Unicorn brain eventually. One to definitely download.

Back to the gym

I’ve been slacking on the gym. It’s only been a few weeks but I’ve just not been going. But, the lighter mornings and evenings have really helped. I’ve felt stronger, more determined and mentally prepared to take on the weight-loss plateau I’ve been in.

Week Commencing Feb 20: Gym Time

T

I wanted to make a special shout-out to T this week. He’s been a super-star this. Coming to rescue me at the supermarket (bulk buying is tough when you’re a tiny human.) Bringing me coffee during my stint at the open day, and making me cry laugh whilst watching The Client List. Love you boo.

There’s my week commencing. How was yours?

 

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It feels good to be home.

Travelling is reaaaally fun, but coming home always feels super nice. We’ve been travelling through France the last few days and this is what we got up to.

Sea Legs

On Wednesday night my parents and Char travelled to Greenwich. We settled down together for a takeaway curry and worked out the last of our plans. Early Thursday morning we bumped along to Dover and tucked into a full English breakfast on the Ferry. Unfortunately I don’t have best sea legs. I suffer from horrible sea-sickness. Gross. But T did a great job of distracting me from my wobbly tummy and took this photo of me. My left eye is squinting like hell but I love it.

Week Commencing Feb 13. Orleans Adventure.: On the ferry

Week Commencing Feb 13. Orleans Adventure.: On the ferry

Week Commencing Feb 13. Yellow nail varnish

Chic and Shock

The reason for travelling to Orleans was for a 60th birthday party. The dress-code was Chic and shock – for example an evening gown paired with wellies. T’s outfit was a gorgeous blue suit with yellow painted nails. I wore a knee-length check dress with a a pair of purple glasses double the size of my head. #Classy. The party was incredible. We started with a voting for the most Chic/Shock and rhubarb and white wine cocktails. They were divine and I want to re-create them very, (very) soon. We then attempted the mannequin challenge (which was tougher than I thought.) Dinner was delicious – slow roasted chicken, cous-cous and tender carrots. T was very happy – the food was perfect.

We drank a lot of wine/champagne/cocktails and danced the night away. Char and I taught the room the Saturday night routine and I confused the French with the ‘Foot Pump’ move. Y’know when you grab you foot and pump it forward and back – I received a lot of odd looks. We stayed up until 5am which was brutal travelling home, but it was perfect. One of the best parties I’ve had the chance to attend.

French Cuisine

I couldn’t write a Week Commencing about France without mentioned the food. We tried a lot of different things – some typical some a little less. We travelled to a grill and wok where we ate piles of sushi, spring rolls and juicy prawns. They had the option of creating your own stirfry. I chose beef and prawns, with broccoli, carrots, noodles and a thai sauce. It was really delicious.

Due to staying with a French family (my mum has been pen-pals with the person who’s birthday it was for many years.) we get to try a lot of home cooked cuisine. One of my favourite things to eat when we’re there is a tuna bread. It has a thick crust and is often paired with tomato, chili and mushroom. This time we also tried a courgette and goats cheese bread which I am determined to re-create. Recipe to come soon.

The morning after the party we ate a banquet of beautiful dishes. Crepes with nutella, a potato, herring and onion salad. Slow roasted cold chicken with garlic mayonaise and a lentil dish. I think it had egg, tomato, lentils and frankfurters but I really want to recreate this (as well as everything else.) But, with vegetarian frankfurters so T can have it.

Two final food shout-outs. French Pringle flavours were amazing. The two we tried were Emmental and Pizza. Both were delicious but smelt really strong. Final shout out is to the cake at the party – I think it was passion fruit and blackcurrant but it was fabby.

Foggy Walks

Before Chinese food we went on a little walk near Olivet. We found some swans and also spotted a man canoeing, with headphones singing operatically at the top of his lungs. Incredible. The photos I took – which I will share more of soon were stunning. It was such a beautiful, beautiful walk.

Exploring Orleans

It was T’s first adventure to France so we did go and explore Orleans. Unfortunately we were short on time (before the party,) so we only wandered through the streets. Bustling, bright and beautiful the city is full of nooks and crannys. I want to go and explore more – but for T to be able to explore a French city a little and to see a marching band (of all things) it was wonderful. We’re already planning a trip back to France. (Probably Paris!)

There is a little bit of an insight into our French adventure. I’m sure more photos and recipes will feature soon. Where was the last place you explored? And how was your week – let me know down below or tweet me @littlebookblog1 or see more of my photos here.