Christmas

Oh Christmas tree…..

09/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Yeah I know, I’ve been mentioning Christmas for weeks and you may or may not give two hoots about the festive season (the hubster for one would join you in the not camp), but for me it’s a special, beautiful time of the year.

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I love about the season are the traditions, be they big or small. As I’ve mentioned before one of ours has long been having the tree up by the 12th December (my birthday) and I’ve insisted on a real tree as long as I’ve been able to. Only, for the last two years, what with the curious baby we had roaming the house, I had to admit a real tree perhaps wasn’t the best idea. Instead I resigned myself to a small artificial tree on a table, out of his reach. And it broke my heart. Really, especially the first year. I’ve prided myself on my tree in years gone by, so seeing this tiny little fake thing, well it was better than nothing, but it was just not right.

So this year, now that Oscar’s a bit older, I knew I wanted to try a real tree again. Despite husbandly protestations I’ve rearranged the furniture and made a tree fit in our tiny lounge. And I couldn’t be happier. Yeah Oscar’s had a play with the baubles, but anything too precious has been put up high and anyway he has to learn.

My decorating style is colourful, mismatched and fun. And I love it. I couldn’t begin to have a colour co-ordinated, all matching tree. They remind me of the ones I see in shops and hotels. Mine is truly a homely tree and will only get more bonkers as the years go on of that I have no doubt. I can’t wait for Oscar to start making me things to add to it as the years go by.

So here’s a look at this years tree and a few of my favourite, haphazard colourful decorations.

Here she is a what a beauty — Here she is. What a beauty!

I said I'd get a proper tree in our tiny lounge, and I did! — I said I’d get a proper tree in our tiny lounge, and I did!

One of the first 'special' decorations I bought when Ben and I first moved in together. It came from Accesorize and it's still one of my faves. — One of the first ‘special’ decorations I bought when Ben and I first moved in together. It came from Accesorize and it’s still one of my faves.

Ben's 'Boobie Bauble'. I bought this for him from Ann Summers. It looks fairly innocuous, until you look at it closer. hehehehe! — Ben’s ‘Boobie Bauble’. I bought him this, from Ann Summers. It looks fairly innocuous, until you look at it closer. hehehehe!

Oscar's taken a real shine to this Father Christmas and quite rightly so - he's a beaut! — Oscar’s taken a real shine to this Father Christmas and quite rightly so – he’s a beaut! The pink glitter bauble behind him, is also one of my fave plain baubles

This is just so American 😉 . Remember the Alamo. From The Alamo. We visited in 2010 and what a fab reminder of our trip.

My beautiful Welsh dragon, bought when we lived in Swansea. Ben wanted to find one wearing a Santa hat, but alas had to settle for this! I love this dude. Reminds me of some very happy times.

We made this with Oscar when he was 7 months, old for his very first Christmas. We went to a local ceramics cafe and made this, along with hand print tiles for all the grandparents. I took it out this year and was amazed at how tiny his hand was. I’ll admit. I got a little teary. Yeah this is a very precious bauble indeed.

And the most recent one is this, Christmas Thomas the Tank Engine. As soon as I got it I knew the Boy would never let me keep it on the tree. Ahh well. He’s Oscar’s decoration for 2014. Every year we’re buying Oscar a decoration especially for him. Each Christmas they’ll hang on the tree, then be put away in a special box. When he moves out, I’ll give him the box, so he’ll have a collection of decorations ready and waiting for him and his new home. So far he has Thomas and an Elmo from last year!

Hope you enjoyed this whistle stop tour through just a couple of my favourite decorations. What’s your tree like? I’d love to know!

Slimming World Update – Week 72

04/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hi guys

Hows you? I’m good. Surrounded by the colours and sounds and general excitement of the festive season and pretty much loving it! I’ve spent the last few days writing Christmas cards. I tried not sending cards one one year and just donated to charity instead. Don’t get me wrong, I fully appreciate the sentiment behind it, but it made me feel awful. So I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’m a card writer and I get great cards every year, carefully chosen from charities that mean something to me. This year’s are Thomas the Tank Engine themed (for the boy) and come from the National Autistic Society. They’re just gorgeous! Anyway I did have an Excel spreadsheet as a Christmas card list that I’ve been using and regularly updating for years. Until this year. We bought a new PC in the summer and I forgot to transfer the list onto the new hard drive. Sat down to write the cards this week and I realised I’ve lost my ‘go to’ list! So at least one night this week has been just spent updating my contacts. I think I have them all now, but if you were expecting a card from me and you don’t get one, I might have just missed you off the list. Either that or I don’t really like you 😉

Christmas has also been making it presence felt in our house this week in the form of new pyjamas. If you follow me on any social media, you may already know this; to say I was excited was an understatement. Regular readers will know just how much I love shopping these days, how one of my goals this year was to ‘conquer Fat Face’ (which I think I can safely say I’ve done several times over 😉 ). However, something I really wanted from them, but had never been able to fit into before, was their Christmas pyjamas. They do such beautifully festive ones every year. So this year I decided to treat myself and ordered their Folkloric pyjama bottoms and tshirt. And I LOVE them. If it wasn’t a tradition to wear new pyjamas on Christmas Eve I’d be wearing them already! They’re just so pretty and Christmassy.

But the best thing about them is the difference I can see in my shape when I wear them. You may think I’m barmy, but I sometimes find it really hard to ‘see’ what I look like. In my mind I’ve been so big for so long that despite what the scales say or what I see in the mirror, I find it hard to know what I actually look like. That’s why I do comparison photos and why they blow my mind so very much. This one is quite hard for me to share. The first picture I have never shared as I hated it then and I hate it now. But I’ve got so few full length photos of myself that it’s the best one to use here, I think. This was taken in the Maldives in 2009. Its a few years ago for sure, but I was a similar size to this when I started SW (actually I was probably a bit bigger 🙁 ) Basically a Size 26 to a 16.

Wowsers!

Enough said really.

This past week hasn’t always seen me make the wisest of food choices – nothing mad, just not the best and I’m not really sure why. So I was thrilled with a maintain last night, staying at 6 Stone 7lb (91lb) lost. And actually, this close to Christmas and the challenges it can bring, I think that’s sometimes all you can do. Protect the progress you’ve made. I have thought about it long and hard and I think expecting 7lbs loss in 3 weeks with all the parties and what not I have over the next few weeks is unrealistic and probably just setting myself up for disappointment (and lets be honest, feeling a failure is no gift to give myself this Christmas). That’s why I’m modifying my Christmas goal. And before you say, I’m not stopping or giving up or admitting defeat. I’m taking responsibility for my choices and being realistic. I would like a lose a couple more lbs by the last weigh in, but as long as I don’t gain from this point until Christmas I’ll be happy.

Oh and update on the Fat Face shirt – I went in to my local branch to try it on again and they’d taken them all off the shop floor as they’ll be going in the sale after Christmas. I decided to chance my arm and wait until then and hope they have my size. I do love a bargain!

Have a great week.

xxxx

Slimming World Update – Week 71

27/11/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hi you!

Despite being able to say ‘bye bye, see you soon’ for a while now Oscar has only just started to say Hello, and this is how he says it. It’s the cutest thing!

So how’s your week been? Mine been good, properly cold, but good none the less. I explained last week that I was making a gamey take on Chilli, using (free and speed food) Venison for dinner with friends on Friday. And I did. Only I think the Venison was off! It was fresh when purchased, but I froze it. I then think I defrosted it (i.e. left it out of the fridge) for too long. It smelt really odd raw, and smelt worse as it cooked! It also tasted of kidneys – you know, slightly pissy! I was gutted. I mean I’d definitely try it again, only I think I’d buy the meat closer to making the dish. Anyway, rather than poison our guests we wrote the whole thing off and because we had neither the time or the ingredients to prepare anything else, got take out. It wasn’t how I planned the evening to go, but as I’d been being careful with my syns (with the wine I knew would be drunk on Friday in mind) I decided not to worry about it too much. So Friday was one of those nights where suddenly everything is ‘off plan’. Food, wine, even a few chocolates. And boy did we all enjoy it. Nearly as much as Sarah and I enjoyed beating the boys at Cranium. Games Nights are so the way ahead for a fun night in! I highly recommend it.

So any who I wasn’t hopeful in ANY way for last night’s weigh in, but was bowled sideways to see I’d lost 0.5lb taking me back to 6 Stone 7lb. Who knew!

I spoke last week about the jeans situation and after writing about it decided to take the plunge and order the next size down. I got the size 14 (eek!) in the Next Relaxed Skinny Jeans that I’ve been wearing since the 18 started to fit me last year. I love these jeans and have had both the 18 and the 16. They suit my shape so well and despite having some stretch retain their jeansyness (real word) Or they did. Because I received them last Friday and immediately realised Next have changed the material. A quick check on the composition shows the new pair had less cotton in them and felt more like jeggings. And they looked awful! Way too big. Now you think I’d be pleased that a 14 was too big, but I wasn’t. I was gutted. I don’t know about you ladies (you may feel this too chaps!) but it takes me a good while to find a pair of jeans I like and when I do I wear them forever! It’s so good to be able to pick up a new pair whenever you need them, knowing they’ll fit. So yeah I was gutted. Anyway I took them back to Next and while we were there I tried on several different pairs. All in a 14. And do you know, all but one pair fitted! Size 14 jeans fitted me! Sorry, can I just take a moment here:

SIZE 14 JEANS FIT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ridiculous turn-ups, but bloody hell, the size 14 fit!

No hoofage to be seen! — My thighs! Seriously? Yes seriously?

Right. So yeah several pairs fitted, but none were perfect. One had enormous turn-ups I didn’t like and one had no pockets (not practical I keep all sorts in my pockets at all times including my phone). Ahh well it would seem the search goes on. With the changes that have taken place to my shape recently, I think I need a day in town, sans child, to try some on. Hmm.

And as I mentioned last week, those changes have recently been thanks to the Core Stability classes I’m doing with Fit for Life Mums. And look what I got last night:

Proving to myself that the relatively small changes I’m seeing on the scales, sometimes mean nothing to a change in shape. And outlook. I love my classes and it’s giving me the nudge to think about doing more exercise. Yeah I know. Me! I’ll let you know!

So for the coming week, we have no parties or such challenges. So I’m going to give a real serious push towards 7 Stone (Tish – can I borrow the food diary for the week you lost 8.5lb please? 😉 ). I have 4 more weigh ins (last one being on 23rd, not 17th as I originally thought) before Christmas. Come on Mrs S. You can DO this.

Have a great week entering the Christmas month with head held high and resolve held firm.

xxxxx

Christmas Blogger Gift Swap

17/11/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Since becoming a Stay at Home Mum I’ve had some great experiences, and I’m happy doing what I do. But sometimes I really miss some of the aspects of working in an office. Things you wouldn’t necessarily consider. Things like the banter, the coffee round (no one gets me coffee here, except me!) and at this time of year, Secret Santa. I love a Secret Santa. I’ve had some great gifts in the past and my favourite storyline in The Office (both UK and US) revolves around a Secret Santa. So when I saw a post detailing a UK blogger Gift Swap, I was like a kid in a candy store. Dressed as an elf. Happy and Christmassy!

It’s my way of participating in a Secret Santa, with people who do what I do. And maybe you’d like to join in?

The beautiful Viola, over at apieceoifviola has set it up and is organising it all and bless her for doing so!

So what’s the deal?

Christmas Blogger Gift Swap (UK only)

An invitation to all bloggers, regardless of whereabouts you live in the UK, regardless of how big or small your blog is, and regardless of what ‘type’ of blog you have, to join in and get involved!

What is this all about?
The idea behind this event is to basically get bloggers interacting which each other during the festive season and to do a gift swap. It’s a chance to get to know others and discover a variety of other amazing blogs out there! You’ll be paired with a fellow blogger at the beginning of December where you’ll have a short period to get to know them before you have to send them some lovely Christmas gifts.

But don’t worry:
You don’t have to spend a massive amount of money if you don’t want to. Heck, you could even send homemade gifts (they are said to come from the heart) and are just as good! You and your partner can both decide a budget if you want to, but essentially it’s your choice.

How do I get involved?
Well, there are 3 simple, easy steps:

Fill out the Google form here and wait for a confirmation email from Viola.
Write a blog post about this event within 3 days of receiving confirmation so that we can get as many bloggers involved as possible!
Once paired up, get to know your fellow blogger, buy their gifts and send them off!

Rules
Here are the following dates for this swap:

November 28th: Deadline for completing the submission form.
December 1st: Find out your blogger pair, yay!
By December 17th: Send off gifts to your blogger pair 🙂

In order to take part, you must:

Fill in the Google form document – here’s the link again.
Write a blog post about this event within 3 days of receiving confirmation.
Send a couple of nice gifts to your paired blogger by December 17th.
Write a post about your gifts (must include photos) after you have received them.
Send Viola links to all of your blog posts!

You can contact Viola on Twitter & Instagram (@violahelen_) or email her at apieceofviola@gmail.com. You can also use the hashtag #apovgiftswap on Twitter or Instagram to connect with others!

I am so excited to find out who I’m paired with and get my Christmas Gift Swap mojo working!

If you’re any kind of blogger, you’re in the UK and you want to join in, then come on – what are you waiting for!!!

You never know you might get paired with me! And I buy great gifts 😉

Slimming World Update – Week 69

13/11/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hiya!

Have you’ve had a good week? Despite it only being midway through November, mine’s been full of Christmas. Be it weeping at supermarket adverts (seriously Waitrose and Sainsburys, this needs to stop, it’s getting embarrassing) or visiting the mother of all Christmas Fair’s with my great buddy Helen, this week has truly marked the start of the festive season for me.

Now, I don’t know about you, but for me Christmas always, always means food. Any celebration in my family was usually marked with food, but Christmas is traditionally when things go a bit bonkers. It’s not just the main meal, although I have eaten Christmas dinners that have literally been the biggest meal I’ve eaten all year. It’s everything that goes with it. Its the party food, it’s the nibbley bits, it’s the crisps, the snacks, the nuts, the chocolate, the cakes, the biscuits. You get the picture. It’s almost as if the season cannot take place unless everyone has at least one high fat snack screwed into their hand at all times. And in previous years I’ve gleefully joined in this ‘tradition’. It wasn’t until last year that I took time to stop and look at what I expected of the food of Christmas and had to ask myself why? I understand Christmas is a time of generosity, of giving, of plenty and I don’t disagree with these sentiments at all. I just don’t want to push my body into a near diabetic coma in order to prove I’m feeling the Christmas spirit. Surely the fact that I’ve already got “Oscar’s” (yeah right! hahaha) advent calender up should give you a clue as to how much I enjoy Christmas 😉

But the thing is, it isn’t Christmas yet. We have 6 weeks to go. And I know the next 6 weeks aren’t going to be easy. I know that from last year. This time of year can be hellish for those with any kind of food issues and I know I count myself in that group. And it’s not helped that the enormous marketing machine behind Christmas is already in full swing. You think this is full on, you just wait. Every week between now and Christmas will see supermarkets pile on the pressure, with offers and deals and selling you things you need in order to make your Christmas complete, most of which will be food or drink. So OK it’s their busiest time of year and competition for your hard earned buck is fierce. I get that. But I also understand that what is being sold at me, will not make my Christmas. Gorging, will not make my Christmas. And gaining huge amounts of weight, weight I’ve fought every day for months to lose, will not make my Christmas.

So I guess the question is what will make my Christmas? Our plans for this year are pretty much the same as last. Christmas isn’t going to be syn free by any means. But it will be more considered. We’re going out for dinner. This will have the joint benefits of average sized portions and no left overs. We will be drinking Baileys in our coffee and Veuve in our pyjamas. We’ll be getting small pieces of our favourite cheeses and one box of our favourite chocolates. Every indulgence will be planned and anticipated. And every mouthful will taste all the better for it. That and spending time with the people I love the most in all the world. Yeah that’ll make my Christmas 🙂

Right, all talk of Christmas. Enough!

So this week’s weigh in was one I approached with some trepidation. Helen and I had such a great weekend and while I worked really hard to abstain from tasters of cheese etc, I did have a glass of wine here and a bag of popcorn I couldn’t syn there. So all in all I was hoping for no less than a maintain. Which I why I was thrilled with a loss. 1.5lb off. Get in! But more to the point that 1.5lb took me, rather neatly, to my 6.5 Stone Award! That’s right I have now lost 6 Stone and 7lb (91lb).

It’s been something of a long time coming, this one. Five months to be precise. I haven’t gained or lost a lot in that time. Had I been trying to maintain I’d have been doing a bang up job, but that wasn’t ever my intention. Don’t get me wrong, I know the results I’ve seen over the last five months have been entirely down to me and If I’d really wanted to have been regularly losing I could have been. But I’m not sad about it. I don’t feel I’ve lost the last five months. I am at peace with the fact that this journey will take as long as it takes 🙂

So I have 7lb to lose before the last Christmas weigh in. There are 5 weigh ins to go. 7lb in five weeks. Totally doable. I’m going for another good loss this week to send me flying towards my 7 Stone Award. I’m concerntrating on SuperFree foods and particularly those that Slimming World class as Super Speed (foods that will speed up your weight loss). I have also decided to have another crack at eating a better breakfast, than a coffee and a banana. This morning I had 35g porridge oats (as my Healthy Extra B) mixed into a Vanilla Muller Light with half a punnet of raspberries (first Speed food right there!). It was delicious! It didn’t taste like eating yogurt for breakfast (which I personally have struggled with in the past) but neither did it just taste like porridge. It was great. Thanks for the tip Sara!

Hope you have a super week, not letting the marketing departments of big supermarkets dictate the food you eat 😉

xxxxxxxx