I got mail : Ultimate Parcel LOVE!!!!!!

If you've never used magazine pages to wrap gifts then you just haven't lived!

Keep meaning to see Bridesmaids - thanks for the reminder!!

Soooooooooooo excited to receive the most perfect little package from Homey Home Home today (my parcel was only approximately 1000 degrees so I'm confident it's only been there for a few hours, else it would have be incinerated!! :-)) It's so true that the best things come in small packages. Scrap that. The best things come in packages or letters full stop. OK I'll admit; anything that is handwritten and personally addressed to me essentially ROCKS my WORLD.

Today my happiness was further compounded a million fold to discover the most amazing cluster of little parcels inside only to be opened at specific - but oh so typical - GoaM stress head situations. Love this beyond belief. It feels like my own personal treasure hunt/guardian angel/cheer captain is accompanying me as I go about my US adventure. YAY! The thoughtfulness of my amazing package sender has blown me away. My grin says it all (well that and my personal thank you coming soon, o wonderful package sender) - I am unbelievably grateful.

You too should be equally grateful as all I had to blog about today otherwise was:

• It's taken me two days to recover my energy after Thursday's 8.5km run - ever since I have just been feeling completely poleaxed and it's really shocked me just how unconditioned I am. Still. 


• As an extra post epic run thank you gift, my back went into major protest - jumping, throwing, pulling or lifting anything is a slight issue - thank goodness Crossfit/Leanfit/ Life doesn't depend on any of these skills!


• Random American discovery - US washing machines really mean business OR else US underwear is just SUPERrobust. My particular washing machine has a preference for chewing my UK underwear - especially UK bra clips. Going commando might soon not be my prerogative, but rather my only option(judging from the ever shrinking stash of my favourite knickers no longer in production sob sob that I have left that haven't fallen apart. YET.) I actually had a small taster of the reality of going commando this week when my newly laundered but slightly mangled bra completely fell apart in public - only in front of 30 people - it was not my best moment! Oooooooh I wonder if my parcel includes a package 'to be opened when you inadvertently find yourself nekkid in public?!' ;-))


• I now know what quarter of a cow looks like in the freezer, what the remains of quarter of a cow/deer becomes when the freezer unfortunately goes off (for an undeterminable period) in 100 plus degree heat AND most crucially how to overcome your instinctive *gag* reflex long enough to clear the end result up. Extra fun times. So glad I never became a butcher/mortician/nurse as I gag wayyyyyyy too easily. Little known fact: I 'sympathy' vomit when in the physical presence of someone else throwing up. I can't help it so it's not a great gift to have but it does get me out of the 'keeping hair from falling in the toilet while friend is vomiting' friend role quite successfully. No-one wants to be vomited on whilst they themselves are vomiting or so I've learnt!

So there you have it: Hundrumania + Parcel Love = Freaking Spectacular Day (+ slightly more interesting blog post ;-))

Note to self: Pay It Forward every opportunity I get! (the parcel love NOT the gagging/vomiting) xx

The Happiness Project

I picked up a book this weekend that I just literally couldn't walk past:

GENIUS

It has all the hallmarks of THE most brilliant book and of being 'the one' worthy of passing onto my American friend when I see her in a couple of weeks. YAY finally!! Ms American Cutie Pie started off the international book swapping thing a couple of years back but it's taken me alllllllll this time to find a book worthy of following on from Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. If you haven't read Ms Gilbert's book, honestly ditch the film and read the book instead. This is one of the books you have to experience through the written words on the page not images on the wide screen. I promise you will not be disappointed if you make the investment.

OK so I have yet to actually read Rubin's Happiness Project (I've just finished a book about fanged people, not the vampire series you might think but still, you have my permission to roll your eyes) Anywho, I have big expectations for this book: To me the Happiness Project is everyone's fundamental purpose on Earth. This is everyone's business in life for themselves and better still for everyone around them. Personally I'll take all the hints and tips I can get. I will never understand people who are determined to be miserable, suck misery out of everything or worse, are determined to make everyone around them miserable. What's the point? Seriously, what's the point?

By contrast I LOVE people who are not prepared to accept their current reality, who are prepared to fight to make magic happen: Whether that individual is Justin Bieber and his goal is selling out Madison Square Gardens in less than a year even despite being an unknown {I think he blew his goal out of the water ;-)) Major kudos to him}, whether that individual is Jess from the insanely good dudeandsweeties.com who is raising four very young kids, one of whom has sensory issues, and her aim is making it through the day without losing the plot, all whilst her husband works a 60 hour week to provide for them all {MAJOR respect to the dude and sweetie fam and the thousands of other families out there} or whether that person is Ben, an overweight unhappy person who wants to make his grandmother proud. In the process Ben started a happiness blogger project revolution of his own: Do Life. So simple, so powerful and so effective that Ben radically altered his life too. Tomorrow the Do Life Troop: Ben. Jed and Pa are all coming to town and NOTHING, NADA, NIENTE would stop me from being there to say hello - even if it does means running 5km in the dying Texan afternoon heat. That's true international groupie dedication for you!

Being there tomorrow is part of my own Happiness Project - well that and finding a way to permanently envelope my soul in the feeling I get when I hear Zac Brown Band's Colder Weather, preferably whilst driving.  Well all that AND developing my Dad's ability to go to work each and every day and work HARD each and every day, all with quiet contentment {even despite having four crazy women in his life determined to wreck his peace and quiet anyoldhow ;-)) }

Here's to each and everyone's own Happiness Project, whatever it may be, whereever it might take you. We all rock, even my Dad does secretly!  xx

Zac Brown Band - they know a thing or two about harmonies!

p.s. Please let Rubin's book not be all about finding a man - or I may just scream ;-)) Can we just make Oprah President of the United States and have done with it already?! Pleeeeeeeeease ;-))

The Vibrams Love Affair: Part Deux

Well most of you know how much I adore my Bikilas aka Monkey Shoes - mostly cos they're pink, different and fitness related - three qualities I adore in EVERYTHING. But recently I've been on the look out for some good summer shoes ideal for walking in, aka not flip flops, after my recent sandal/walking ruination debacle. BUT most of allllllllllllllllllll, I've been wanting an excuse to buy this glittery pair of magic awesomeness which have FINALLY gone on sale - WAHOOOO. Thanks Vibram. Such a fitting way to commemorate my last pay day for more months than I care to think about ;-))

Admire and feel jealous of every single one of my ten toes!

The real reason I am currently SOOOO psyched about Vibram Fives is well, about to become self evident. Basically I am in love with their insanely good ad campaign which I only spotted this weekend - HOW IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS?! It has all the hallmarks of the classic ads:

• MAJOR AUDACITY - check


• HUMOUR/ CHEEK!! - check


• SIMPLICITY - major check


• GOOD OL"FASHIONED NUDITY - ummm check

The microsite developed to support this campaign is at http://www.youarethetechnology.com/ but personally I prefer the standalone print images - it felt less pervy.

Here's a taster:

YOU are the TECHNOLOGY

infer YOU are an inherent genius

NICE SALES PLOY!!

You have no idea how hard it was to source these images.

I will have gay sites spamming me FOREVER no doubt ;-))

That's dedication for you!

If you're feeling bored and obviously NOT at work go to the microsite and check out what the dude has written on his butt ;-)) xx

Best Workout EVER

Best exercise known to man:  RELAX......

Wednesday evening AJ and I were due to go for a c.6km continuous jog after work, though from our levels of enthusiasm whilst we were discussing the options after Tuesday night's 5km interval learn to run session - you'd have thought we were planning to run naked, except for massive lead boots, with savage dogs chasing at our heels. However as I have received and 'ignored' too many email reminders of training runs from my ASICS training plan of late, I was determined to do something and moreover to make a good effort of it. I even took the atypical step (for me) of skipping the Wednesday morning training session in order to reserve all my energy and all my limited enthusiasm for the 6km jog post-work.

However the gods or rather, the Extremely Benevolent Goddess that is AJ (she's called AWESOME JO for a reason!!), intervened and swapped the proposed run session for a massage at the aptly named spa Relax - HALLELUJAH!!

To say it was completely ahhh-mazing is a gross understatement. I've forgotten how brilliant massages are. I only got a fit of the giggles once - which according to the masseuse was caused by the amount of pressure required to tackle all the tension in my back. My tickle threshold in itself confirms that I so would NEVER have made it through a hardcore sports massage. And on leaving I was so chilled, my legs felt brilliantly rejuvinated and crucially de-knotted and I was actually 7 inches taller than when I arrived -  HALLELUJAH!! - Either that or my masseuse shrunk A LOT during the hour. All I wanted to do afterwards was get home still wrapped in my cozy coocoon of relaxation and snuggle into bed.

And that's exactly what I did. BLISS. 

Thanks a squillion AJ for the newest favourite workout everrrrrr. xx

p.s. The lengths people go to NOT to run with me - shocking ;-)) - more likely I suspect AJ had a very HOT date last night and so felt compelled to distract me - hmmmmm ;-)) ?!

This was me during and after

This sculpture was made completely out of shaped rows of cardboard 

Pretty ahh-mazing too.

'The most fun you can have with your clothes on'

In clothed heaven with 40,000 of my new BFFs!!

This is how my adopted Country Music kindred family described our night. I had Oklahoma to my right, Indiana to my left and Colorado bringing down the house in front of me. Despite only hanging out tonight for the second time, we are already at the hugging 'OMG I haven't seen you in 12 hours' stage of our friendships.

TONIGHT WAS INSANE.

Seriously there's still two nights of Country Music Fest 2011 to go but I'm not sure tonight can be topped.


EVER.


Such an incredible line up of artists tonight (and last night was rocking - cue: Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band - major swoon - the guy can sing). Even Queen Shania Twain was in da house tonight - it was that good!!!!!!! Lady Antebellum is becoming a new love/lust (the chorus of American Honey sung live is goosebumps down your arms GOOD) and well Keith Urban is basically da bomb - NO-ONE works a crowd like Keith and believe me NO-ONE even vaguely remembers he's married to Nicole Kidman when he's on stage OR off it!! Plus don't even get me started with Sugarland: Jennifer Nettles is still one of my top five, die hard, fave country music artists OF ALL TIME (you get the picture!!) and even she surpassed my very high expectations when she whipped out Britney Spears and Dolly P. in the mix tonight.

It was a full on non-stop party: The epic conga line around the stadium only paused for 20 mins of mexican waves.

Totally incredible. I'm still grinning like a fool and buzzing two hours later despite it being 3am in the morning and despite partying since 4pm yesterday afternoon. Best of all, round three kicks off in just a few hours time. I can now die happy.

Say hello to my new family xx

Make Yourself Whoever You Want To Be

I actually had a totally different post planned for today but 2 mins before I opened this screen to blog, something else caught my attention and got me thinking and since life is short (fyi 40 mins ago I nearly had a head on collision with a scooter - never been SOOOOO scared), I wanted to share this with you NOW.

Just in case ;-))

NTC Vid: Oh how I yearn for Lea's brand of ugliness!! ;-))

Twelve months - maybe more - I was having a conversation with my unofficial 'Life Coach' - she is AMAZING btw.

{Small sidetrack:: Life-Coach-to-be and I met randomly at a Wellness Event about 2 years ago and she was the very first ever London friend I made, so is VERY precious to me. Plus she was my first blog subscriber of a still VERY ELITE crowd ;-)) I'm SOOO, SOOO GRATEFUL to have found her. I never give her enough credit for pulling me out of the big black hole I was stuck in for too, too long: When I didn't want to see anyone I knew, out of shame and embarrassment at just how sad (in every sense) I was - I knew Mrs Miracle would meet me for a coffee and a chat and get my thinking back on track. Frequently she hit the nail on the head - BAM - and still does. BAM, BAM, BAM. One of these days my own miracle worker will become a bonafide Life Coach and I will be sending you all her way stat.  But for now and totally selfishly I'm REALLY glad she's slightly under the radar - else who would I turn too when I really ROYALLY screw up (which I still do all too often). THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU - I am who I am today because you helped me sort out who I had become. It wasn't easy by a long shot so thanks a million, billion for sticking with me. p.s. I am not ignoring your emails, I am just officially rubbish - some things never change - BUT a call is coming this week if you are around xx }

Anyway back to that conversation we were having - L.C. was asking me (as she frequently does :-)) to describe a perfect weekend or my perfect life.  I don't really go in for 'perfection' and 'my life' in the same thought pattern as it leads to being all too easily disappointed. Back then I really struggled to articulate what I wanted my life to be. I still do. BUT this afternoon was a pretty perfect moment for me - I got to sit in the park in the sunshine and just hang out with some AMAZING friends for hours and it felt like no time had passed at all. It was blissfully low key but blissfully fun and that something I'd never managed to articulate during that conversation with my L.C. those 12-18 months ago.

A placeholder until I can remember the name of the song I'm humming in my head - but this message isn't a bad substitute!!

Whilst I LOVE this clip of Lea, BEYOND LOVE the Nike Women kicka$$ brand (still kicking myself I didn't get my application in for that most coveted job with them - ONE DAY!!!) and Lea's notion that it's up to you - IT IS peeps!!, recognising who/what you want to be is also key. Personally I've still really got no clue past wanting to be happy - but FYI my unofficial Life Coach has done a brilliant job at getting me to recognise the good thing I have right now.

Make Yourself Whatever YOU Want To Be (getting help - even getting a nose job - isn't cheating, it's TOO important) xx

* 26th April: Minor edits of the following to attempt to transform it into proper English and lessen the confusion ;-)) Sorry*

p.s. I cannot wait for October when I will finally achieve iphone 5!!! salvation and can unleash my Nike Training Club ADDICTION in full. Yabbadabbadoooooo - Only 165 days to go til the following iphone magic is mine:

1. N.T.C. HAPPINESS: A personal trainer in my pocket ;-)))


2. Accessing all the GPS training tracking gems that Han has been teasing me with for way TOOO long


3. Crucial one on one time with that fruit ninja slashing game that is surprisingly full on more-ish

and, AND, AND 4. on-the-go-blogging!!!!! - thanks GG for that delectable tip off for the blogging app. Oh how I curse two year phone contracts! But as a small consolation, from what I hear the iphone 5 should be well worth the wait given all the delectable features it's reported to have.

I'm now good enough to eat

Seriously. Though WARNING: Very large appetite is a necessary pre-requisite ;-))

Don't worry I haven't discovered a newfangled cannibal diet, instead I discovered Burt's Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuaçu Butters Body Lotion during a desperate hunt for a remedy to halt the current snake like skin shedding of my sun burnt arms post my Brighton escapade - sorry waaaayyyyy TMI. 

Oh for smellovision

I'm not sure what Cupuaçu is but I do know that this lotion is amazing. I now have the lingering aroma of chocolate following me everywhere. I'm permanently happy and I've consumed zero calories in the process. It's like I've died and gone to heaven.

I read somewhere a while ago that scientists were working on a chocoholic cure based around a cocoa scent patch. Well I think they cracked it. Seriously no-one NEEDS to moisturise thrice daily!!

In other news - I am laid up in bed AGAIN due to upper back muscles twinges and a locked neck. My back went crazy just as I was walking past Big Ben on my way to work this morning. Han - you didn't perhaps hex the area/ me on our way past on Saturday (TEASING!) cos I, and the tourists who were cluttering up the pavement, are really truly sorry for impeding your super speedy Marathon walking progress (TEEEEEASING again!) Hopefully it's just bizarre DOMs in my shoulders and upper back from lugging my rucksack 31 miles on Saturday, rather than google's optimistic diagnosis of meningitis. :((

Regardless I am SERIOUSLY BUMMED not to be at training right now in the sunshine - the girls will be just warming up as I type this :"((  - and I'm bummed for three MAJOR reasons:

1.            Clearly I need to get strengthening my core and upper back STAT if my current injuries are rucksack related. The walking challenge is only three weeks away. This is no time to be skipping any Mel-tastic training sessions.

2.            Today AJ pinned down the 10km race - Kingston on the 5th June. Diaries out peeps and book it in and write "Sub hour record breaking 10km race" Yup - champers will be on ice ready and waiting.  To ensure that this is a record breaking race, SUPERsarah aka Marathon Pace Setter Extraordinaire has volunteered her services to pace set the sub-hour 10km - HOW SWEET IS SARAH?! 

I've raved about Sarah previously: Recap she is a dynamo Personal Trainer - if you are looking for a PT - look no further - this lady is HANDS DOWN AWESOME, not to mention a total hottie. When I become a Millionaire - I will so have this PT Goddess on speed dial alongside my other fav PTs!!  You might think I'm just being nice. But I'm actually impossibly hard to impress and I hate to say it but EVERY training sess I've had with this lady has been sheer brilliance; full on ouchy but brilliant. Request a boxing session - seriously you won't regret it. Actually you may in the short-term but afterwards - say hello to muscle shaping Nirvana.

Couldn't resist adding this epic vid of the lady in action 
- Prepared to be IMPRESSED

 For more awesomeness check her website

p.s. Told you - she's HOTTTTTT!! xx

I've also just remembered why Sarah gets results - AJ and I have already had our first 10km training orders from the official Pace Setter and I quote "speed AND hills midweek and longer runs at the weekend....go." Between Asics and Sarah I'm kinda relieved I'm lying down right now ;-))

• Thirdly, I've been under the weather for a few weeks now -  a heavy cold, chest infection, insomnia, sore throat, sun burn, lingering cough and now a knackered back. Finally I get the message - time to get properly serious about my nutrition, fitness and health.  Since my 10km race and my US departure are exactly seven weeks away and my complacency of the past weeks months means that I'm now gracing 10stone 7lbs :-((, today I'm kicking off my 7th Heaven Mini Mission - Goal:  Lose 7lbs in 7 weeks to arrive at the yet to be achieved 10 stone EPIC mission milestone.  Holiday Bikini Hottie here I come.

Starting to realise a Girl on a Mission's work is NEVER done!! xx

An April Fool....for you

Yesterday Nike released a gadget that is making an April fool out of me...... cos I WANT it, in fact I NEED it sooooooo much.... I don't know how I ever managed without one. I checked it out at NikeTown today in all it's amazing awsomeness {along with a Running Sucks teeshirt ;-)) }

I shall never be able to run again willingly until I have one of these babies. I'm ignoring the fact that I'm meant to be saving every spare penny for my impending adventure - my flights are booked!! - that I already own a Nike run logging device and that most fitness-criminally of all, that it's been about 7 weeks since I purely just went for a run.

Um believing that an AWESOME gadget will make me run and be a better runner - now who's the April Fool?! xx

Nike's ultimate GPS watch - £170 - yup read the price tag and weep!!
One day VERY SOON though.........my precious 

An Arse Whupping

So what comes after wobbly legs you wonder? Let me tell you. A REALLY bruised butt and thighs.  Honestly I feel like I've had a spanking - and not in a good ;-)) way. My tush is sooooooo sore. Honed and toned within an inch of it's life - trust me it daren't wobble right now after the lashing it got on Thursday - but soooooo sore.

To distract me from my current pain and to ensure that I go through with today's arse whupping - in 30 mins I am setting off to Hyde Park to complete 6 x 1 mile run intervals with 20 reps of situps, step up knee jumps, and press ups between each mile interval. I can't cheat now - cos you'll all know!! No fooling y'all. That plus I'm bringing the Nike band out of retirement - not sure it can cope with storing multiple runs but here goes.

To distract you from my ensuing screams of pain, I thought I'd post you this suitably run inspired video - which I've stolen from NieNie - to remind me I have no cause to complain about ANYTHING, EVER not when NieNie can accomplish such amazing things after real tragedy and continuing hardship. NieNie and her cute family star in the video  - SO COOL. I'm a big NieNie fan.

The only thing I cannot fathom are the green puffs of smoke - why?! 
Plus it only makes me think of one thing - you too right?!

Ooooh and I HAVE to mention my two pieces of blog fame this week - my press clipping officer has been VERY, VERY busy this week ;-))

Firstly the insanely talented Sarah of Fairy Tales are True - name checked me - WOOP was NOT expecting that in the slightest as she was just helping me out with a special request.  Being name checked by Sarah makes me almost half as insanely talented as Sarah by association riiiiiiiight?! If you are a FTaT devotee who has arrived at my blog via the inimitable Sarah - I should sincerely apologise that I have no gorgeous photos, travel accounts or suitably Sarah-lovely-awesomeness to share - instead I just have a sore butt!

The gorgeous Sarah herself in a FABULOUS H&M Cardigan - yup I did ask all those months ago!

To return even a smidgeon of Sarah's awesomeness - I want to implore you to head over to her Fairy Tales are True etsy store and check out her insanely good photoprints IMMEDIATELY. Right now. Go!! Sarah took these all during her fairytale travels and they are ALL completely swoon worthy. Added bonus, it now means I can now retire my passport - I don't need to travel anywhere anymore, I can just experience it all through Sarah's eyes and lens!

See- Totally Fairytalelicious!!

Secondly my uber crazily talented friend* the fabulousa Sheridaniana also name checked me, in her latest post, and a FASHION post at that!!! Major smile. Thanks Sheridan. Sheridan is having a bit of a week - she got outed by Daily Candy on Tuesday (well it was only a matter of time), then picked up by Elements of Style on Thursday. If you want to understand why I am such a massive fan of Sheridan - just check out Erin's unrivalled explanation. Some people do just give you that want-to-throw-yourself-under-a-bus-in-a-good-way-as-you-can't-possibly-be-of-equal-worth feeling! Personally I'm just delirious that Sheridan opens my emails ;-)) xx

Sheridan French - fashion editor, fashion designer and mom of two cuties. She even finds the time AND considerable PATIENCE to respond to my fashion emergencies - there are MANY!!

Avert your eyes - some people are just out of this world gorgeous.

p.s. I must insist that if you haven't entered Sheridan's fashion giveaway - do so NOW. (It closes in two days). I implore you - you will not regret it. I have one of her delectables hanging in my closet as I type. The only reason that I'm not wearing it right now is 1. I'm still in my PJs and 2. UK temp is not quite conducive to shorts, tees and summer dresses YET. But as soon as it is - piece of wonder and I will NEVER be parted!!

p.p.s. I got carried away blogging and now have -2 mins to head out the door - but shifting my butt N.O.W.!

(*Noticing a pattern? My advice: Inflitrate with the BEST, *sparkliest* and AWESOMEST people on the planet and pray that even a smidgeon rubs off on you. Now you all know my top secret life plan!!) 

It's OFFICIAL: I'm IN LOVE xx

I LOVE it when people tell me their name - at each and every encounter with them. I forget everyone's names ALL the time. Please don't assume that just 'cos I may have known you for 16+ years I will remember your name. I won't. Sorry. I never forget a face though ;-)

Could JD's shades be any cooler?? - If I owned these I would never leave the neoned lit mirror room like so:



p.s. I still have a crook in my neck - but I think it might have something to do with throwing down some cool break dancing moves whilst I downloaded this track to my shuffle. Who can resist the 'Worm'? - KIDDING - my brand of robot scissor arms, shoulder pops and head sways are way cooler ;-))

Hmm time for Girl on a Mission's DANCE VIDEO TUTORIAL - I think not!! xx

p.p.s If you go by the title Lil Sis then feel free to make me a Valentine Card as per the YouTube Advertisement - being sick is no excuse - V'Day was two weeks ago and I haven't stopped harrassing the postie for my card yet. xx

Stinky Trainer Cure

A slightly unconventional remedy for combating stinky trainer syndrome, but one I am LOVING:

STEP 1: Be the very fortunate recipient of a beautiful surprise bouquet of flowers (hmm I must have done something good in a past life!) – THANK YOUUUUUUU Lucinda - they have been making me smile ALLLLL week long.

STEP 2: Move gorgeously smelling flowers into vicinity of evil malodorous trainers. (Never had such stinky trainers until I attempted running every day)

STEP 3: Inhale deeply without fear of asphyxiation whilst executing a “I’ve received my first ever bouquet of flowers” happy dance in salutation to the flowers/ Lucinda/ the Universe. xx

p.s. It is official - Operation-Avoid-Death-Via-Skydiving is a go. This brings on a whole different kind of dance, one akin to a dirge!

Fun, Games AND a COMPETITION!! - Janathon Day 30

I was invited to a fab "POSH" themed house party in Cambridge this weekend.  Haven't laughed or drunk so much in ages - THANK YOUUUU Hare {and Hare's lovely housemates}. Just what the doctor ordered.

Plus I sampled ;-)) the best punch I've tasted. PERIOD. Like a refreshing fruit salad, incredibly drinkable and oh so simple - just Pimms, Brandy, Apple Juice and Ice - YUMMMMM. I hereby declare EVERY Pay Day Weekend to be "Punch Party Weekend!!"

Punch aside there were also plenty of hilarious games, quizzes and dancing and before I knew it, it was 3am!

The Hare indulging in one of her favourite After Eight games - she is a MASTER at this.

I have literally never laughed so much.  Fortunately I also have the full footage on video for all posterity!! xx

This morning we were all feeling a tad tired, still a tad punch happy and after a yummy brunch - THANKS Hare - we settled down to the serious business of Hoppit/Croppit? - Sorry I can't really remember what it was called. (Blame my punch sozzled brain) It's a fairly simple board game, still in it's original 70s/80s box: Basically you have to protect your own four counters whilst taking out your opponents' counters via landing on their square and depositing them back at your "home." The player with the last counter on the board wins:

Some very happy faces as EVERYONE thought they would be victorious at this deceptively simple game.

In the end, Nat won against her fiance Josh.  

TRUE LOVE = a lifetime of sacrifice. 

Josh learnt a valuable lesson today!!

Fortunately the fun and games don't stop here: Last week PT passed on the details of a BRILLIANT Running Competition. Any Janathoners and Fitness Fans out there - here's the perfect excuse to kick off/ keep up the running habit. 

Introducing The SB Great British Run (click on pink title):

From the 7th-11th February 2010, for one week only, the Sweaty Betty community that accumulates the biggest running mileage will award each of it's members a £50 Sweaty Betty voucher. So whether you run 5 miles or 50 miles - if your SB community wins, you win too AND you get fitter and more fabulous in the process. WIN WIN!!

PT working out with Nell McAndrew!!! at Sweaty Betty!!!

I'm pledging allegiance to the 125 King's Road store as a) I pass this store a couple times a week and b) PT is also part of this SB community and I know how much PT loves to win and what a great runner she is! 'LOSE' just isn't in this girl's vocab!!

I'm also LOVING all the FREE classes Sweaty Betty offers as part of their 'Get fit for FREE campaign'!! - Running, Yoga, Pilates, Circuits - Sweaty Betty has it covered. Check out your local SB store and the classes they offer HERE

If you don't live near a Sweaty Betty Boutique - NEVER FEAR - you can still join in the SB Great British Run - just email your daily miles to logmymiles@sweatybetty.com to be in for a chance to win £50 SB voucher.

In the event that I can help the SB community to running success, this is what I would put my winnings towards - YOWZA!!:

Stella McCartney Run Performance Jacket
YOU WILL SEE ME COMING FOR MILES!!

Phoar - I DROP DEAD HEARTSIE THESE xx
Stella McCartney Seamless Tights

Ladies get signing up (King's Road, King's Road, King's Road ;-)) and get running. Plus let me know which SB community you belong to and what classes are a MUST try. xx

p.s. Janathoners - I'm just about to head out for a one mile run. I'm saving my run energy for Feb 1st and the start of my 10km a day mission - EEEEEEKKKK!!

Ben Does Life

Erm I have basically entered Kitkat Chunky and Mars Celebration land over the last 10 days and with all the snow, the running training is on the backburner.  Not good but since it's Christmas Week, I am fairly relaxed about the current SHOCKING state of affairs (mostly cos the scales are staying static at 10stone 4lbs mark - YAY) Plus it can't snow forever, can it?! But just in case it can, I am looking into getting a two month gym membership so that I have somewhere to train indoors in preparation for 10km everyday challenge in February. Sorry SUPERchicks - Park Training in the freezing bleak midwinter is for more hardcore types than I.

However since I am being a poor model of fitness inspiration, I want to give you all an early Christmas present and share with you my ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FITNESS BLOG HERO of 2010. Seriously I may not train everyday, but I check out bendoeslife.com EVERYDAY WITHOUT FAIL- Ben Davis is INDESCRIBABLY brilliant, amazing and funny.

The legend himself!

There are many, MANY reasons I adore this guy and his blog, but to ensure I do not appear a complete stalker, I will limit myself to my top five reasons why bendoeslife is a MUST fitness blog staple:

1. He has a Ewan McGregor looks thing going for him - so HOT. It's no coincidence Runner's World are putting him on their March/April cover next year!!!
2. His fitness journey started as a Christmas present to his Gran - majorly SWEET.
3. He proves that you don't have to have a perfect physique to be a Marathon runner - this guy started with 5km runs and has completed unimaginably amazing fitness feats including IRON MAN!!!! He inspires me and so many others to push ourselves out of our fitness comfort zone. My next fitness buy is a "do life" teeshirt to wear during my run training next year. You have to love a fitness RETAIL OPPORTUNITY!!
4. Bendoeslife is a bit like a blog soap opera (in the nicest possible sense) eg, his relationship with April, his competitive rivalry with his brother (not over April, I should add) and his CRAZILY FITNESS OBSESSED DAD who generally cracks me up.
5. He is no holds barred - he is frank about how fitness has improved his mental health. He is also quite open about his slightly eccentric obsession for very correct punctuation. (I, on the other hand, freely admit that I have an appalling grasp of the rules of punctuation and so hope to inadvertently pick up some tips!!)

But most of all bendoeslife embodies the community of fitness that I adore - people, even strangers, supporting and checking out each other's highs, lows and progress. As with everything, Ben tells his story best in his own words and in his own way, so I urge you all to:

a) check out his CULT blog at http://www.bendoeslife.com/ immediately, if not sooner and
b) also to check out his YouTube vid of his journey to date (Yup, I also stalk him on YouTube). Please SHARE the video with all your friends - how about getting Ben to 1 million YouTube hits as an early Christmas Present?

Ben you CAN run but you CAN'T hide!! xx

Chocolate Week 2010

Aside from my Birthday and Christmas, this week in October has to be the best week of the year – even more so this year, as I've been so distracted by Commando Challenge, it has snuck up and surprised me with a (chocolate embossed - I wish!!) invite to........... the one, the only "Chocolate Week".

As the theme suggests – it’s all Chocolate tastings, Chocolate launches, Chocolate fun all the time (well for this one week at least). So entering into the spirit of the week and to ensure I make full use of my “get out of chocolate eating guilt week long pass” {which may well be my last chance to indulge for a few weeks if the rumblings of a Nutrition Mission come to fruition- eek} – here’s my foolproof guide to chocolate nirvana.

Monday: Chocolate Milkshake from the Gourmet Burger Co – yummy. No prizes for guessing what my milkshake accompaniment was. Also very yummy and the perfect pre-cinema treat. Monday was alllll about chilling after Sunday’s exploits.

Tuesday: Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes were the order of the day – extra "chocolate brownie" points as they were from the Local Health Shop. These are basically guilt free edibles since they are essentially dark chocolate covered air. Its all about balancing the calories – right?!

Wednesday: Today’s delight is still to be decided – unless I can restrain myself to the chocolate granola I had this morning for breakfast – me thinks probably NOT! What I really want is an Italian hot chocolate from the café across the road from my workplace. Their hot chocolates are thick enough to hold a spoon upright. Truly Scrumptious.

Thursday: I REALLY, REALLY want to experience my idea of H.E.A.V.E.N otherwise known as “CHOCOLATE & COCKTAIL EVENING at Le Meridien”

“A relaxed evening of Chocolate and Cocktail exploration at Le Meridien, Piccadilly, hosted by Chocolate Ecstasy Tours. Drink divine cocktails, see a cocktail making demonstration from Le Meridien’s chief mixologist, taste a selection of tempting chocolate truffles from the UK’s fantastic chocolatiers, expand your chocolate knowledge and leave with a Chocolate Ecstasy goody bag. There will also be live music and savoury tapas.”

Hmm – which one of my chocolate loving friends would be up for this/ can keep up with me and my chocolate loving ways without succumbing to a diabetic coma?? – Michaela?! – though as M's a die hard chocolate confectionary fan, it might be tricky to distract her long enough to get her to drink a chocolate cocktail?! Hmm.

If anyone reading this is free tomorrow evening and feels up for a mini-waistline and financial splurge – Tickets are £45 each. CALL ME IMMEDIATELY – otherwise I’ll be forced to attend Thursday night's Superchicks and cry chocolate tears instead.

Friday: Hmm – I have every confidence that the cake table fairies will magic up a chocolate treat to share the chocolate love throughout the office ;-)

Weekend: Well after my Running School Lesson on Saturday (have to keep some of those chocolate calories in check), I’m heading to the Chocolate Unwrapped Festival at Vinopolis to sign my name on the chocolate wall, get my chocolate personality read – I have many so it may take a while!!, maybe get a chocolate massage and well, CONSUME AN INDECENT AMOUNT OF CHOCOLATE.

Can 6 months hard work be undone in a single week?! – Check back to find out!! xx

10 Things I'm EXCITED about

1. 14 fearless warriors (including quite quietly petrified me) are attempting a rehearsal for Commando Challenge later today.  Spoke to the organiser yesterday who confirmed that he'll be putting up through our paces on the NUTTER'S CHALLENGE!!! (Organiser, I think caught on somehow that I am not an uberfit bunny as he kept wanting me to verify that we were VERY fit, i.e. wouldn't cry.  Me also in role of superefficient (bending the truth) organiser confirmed that EVERYONE (ignoring my own shortfalls momentarily) IS SUPERHEROICALLY F.I.T. and can leap over rivers and run UP trees without a moment's hestitation and thinks crying is only appropriate after all other competition has been "merked".

Good Lord what have I got us into - REPEAT: EXCITED!!!x (Check out the Taster of how Chris Evans got on http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/chris-evans/videos/assault-course/  I am in denial it will be this bad or worse!)

2. I managed 10 FULL pressups in a row on Friday - I am learning to be a machine. Check those biceps!

3. In the morning (i.e. before I've had a chance to chow down on anything larger than a grape) I can see a smidgeon of ab definition fighting its way through the fat on my stomach - WAHOO - Keep up the hard work SuperMEL!!

4. I start four weeks of BoxFit BootCamp this Tuesday (don't worry SuperChickers - amazingly their sessions are all on non-Superchick mornings so I'll still be haunting you all - sufficient ENERGY permitting!!)

BoxFit BootCamp promise that you'll lose 6lbs in 4 weeks - HELL yeah - its going to be HELL, but EXCITING as that'll get me to my target weight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x a Billion.

5. I forgot to do any of my Morning stretches ALL week - oopsie - but I'm EXCITED as I've set myself the challenge of completing them all perfectly for the next seven days. Posture Perfect, one legged squats complete with Fitness Ball, here I come.

6. I have discovered the PERFECT raw food snack that isn't hideous, can't be bounced off the floor, doesn't have the consistency of muck/ rubber and doesn't completely stall any further digestion for the next three days: (Finding a healthy snack that isn't a peice of fruit that meets all these criteria has been much harder than you would believe!) I urge you all to try getting nakd next time you get the urge for chocolate!!  Check eatnakd.com for more details.  Nakd cocoa orange is my current fave. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy and all raw goodness.

7. After a long day at the office i.e. still at my desk at 9pm and reaching for sugar to keep me going when a colleague finally took pity and threw a banana my way (THANK God).  However the eating healthy thing is still not going THAT great so I finally decided to get more EXCITED about it and booked myself a detox diet daily delivery (luckily I got a deal for 50% off so I'm UBEREXCITED not to mention THANKFUL about that). Starting this next week (as realistically I will need a little time to recover from Nutters Challenge today plus the shock of BoxFit Camp this week. Adding in a reformed diet into that equation would require the medical team getting the defibrillator out). But so EXCITED as I won't need to go near Tesco/ Waitrose for a whole week - it will all get brought to me. LOVE IT!

8. SuperChicks have got a new Trainer who although I haven't personally had the pleasure of dying at their hands - I have been tipped off that she's AMAZING (without diminishing any of SuperMel's or SuperSarah's total rock candy amazingness), so I'm EXCITED to sample one of her sessions.

9. Commando Challenge is now only three weeks away. EXACTLY. Exciting and Petrifying in equal measures.

10. I was a very lucky bunny and received the MOST fabulous jacket EVER as a gift from one of my newest/favourite fashion designer/friend/boss this week (who coinsidentially has a VERY EXCITING post up today - check here). Only worn it twice (well I've only had it since Wednesday!!!) but EVERYONE is asking where I got it from - plus A BOY, repeat A BOY with typical "can't recall what I'm even wearing even when I'm standing in front of him" levels of observation - commented (completely unsolicited I should also add) on the PURE amazingness of my jacket. Breath-taking EXCITING!!!

(N.B. "I love you" is directed at the Jacket NOT the boy - FYI.

Will post a pic of very EXCITING jacket later)

What 10 things are YOU excited about? xx

Can't be Tamed

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Ms Milerzs' new video - a little too in homage of Britney/Lady Gaga and a few clunky dance moves - but TRULY AWESOME nonetheless.



WARNING: HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!!

Hopefully this means that I'll no longer need to work sooooo hard to convince my long-suffering friends to come see the Lady herself in concert!!

Emma - for past services rendered - I probably still owe you the Mother of all Favours - just please no DIY!!

But most of all I'm loving the corset she's wearing in the peacock scenes. Furthermore, I am convinced it it potentially multi-functional AND practical - I'm thinking it would be the perfect costume for the MoonWalk next month not to mention any future blind dates, run ins with the boss, general housework, plus my favourite: job interviews!!

Just need to remember where I stashed that spare $25,000 for just such emergencies and I'll be contacting The Blonds for one of my very own.

Though if the Milster wants to send any of her castoffs my way that also would be fab! x

Female Solidarity

I can’t even begin to describe how delighted I was to receive an email yesterday from a friend to say she had been following my blog and had been inspired by my effort to also get her trainers on and walk to work. Thanks Louise – you rock and you TOTALLY made my day – Plus you saved me from bailing out of my workout yesterday when the effort just seemed too much.

Yesterday’s session was interval training and comprised mostly of running with my intervals spent gasping for oxygen trying to recover my breath (and humour!). However the great turnout of SuperChicks last night made it really fun and at least a united hell. Tonight's session by comparison was a bit dull, though SuperTrainer Gemma had her work cut out for her as we were all still feeling the previous evening's workout.

I suppose although no-one can make you get off your butt or get fit for you, the support from friends (Thanks again Louise for your smile-inducing email), the help from SuperTrainers, the interest in progress from colleagues and the smiles from other random, but considerably more proficient, power walkers all make a HUGE difference in keeping me going. To be honest I’m not sure I would have got this far without it.

p.s. Thought I'd fallen down a rabbit hole when I walked into a scene from the teddy bear’s picnic this morning – an adult sized brown fluffy teddy bear complete with satchel (familiarising himself with his London Marathon costume I wonder?) was strolling to work through St James’ Park this morning, looking as if the cares of the world were on his shoulders. Wanted to run up and give him a bear-sized hug but as I wasn’t sure if this could be misconstrued as assault and therefore an arrestable offense, I desisted – but oh so tempted.

This I imagine is what his offspring would look like! Too too cute x

Anti-Chocolate Arsenal

Building up my love list of non-chocolate alternative treats in preparation of my post-Easter (or as the Hare has called it on her Facebook status "Eater Hols"!!) sugar and chocolate COLD TURKEY MONTH.

List so far:

INK - Be it nail varnish (got a hot pink one from Nail Inc called "Union Street" in one of my goody bags which I cannot wait to try out), new pink lingerie or just doodling on pink post its - I literally couldn't live without pink.  Really looking forward to returning home to my pink bedroom for the Easter weekend.

EONIES - Love, love, love these. To me they are like scruffy but chic imitations of roses. Bit like me on my mission to become a slightly scruffier but nonetheless chic version of an original beauty.

RADA SOAP - One of my main extravagances considering a bar of Dove soap is about 70p and equally good whereas a bar of Prada Soap is about £11.00.  However as I find perfume just too overpowering - I feel this is justifiable. But honestly even if I couldn't justify it, I would buy it anyway. The packaging is so indulgent and even after the soap is long gone, the boxes hold the gorgeous scent so I pop them in the drawers of my chest of  drawers and they keep my clothes gorgeously fragranced.

EACE and QUIET - I love having time to myself when I'm not feeling knackered just to be quiet and still and to think.  I'm always trying to live consciously rather than just keeping up with the fast tide of life so true time to be peaceful and quiet is the ultimate luxury.

So equipped with my anti-chocolate arsenal - after a month I will be a prada scented, pink belt in the art of meditation with peonies in my hair!

p.s. As an early Easter treat, I gave myself a break from training today as another session in the cold and wet would, I fear, have completely broken my spirit for good. Although saying that, I had a meeting on a residential estate down from Elephant and Castle this afternoon and since it was only 1.6 miles from the office I walked there and back (carrying my training kit with me in case the weather improved in time for SuperChicks).  I'm so proud that my first reaction was to check walkit.com (my new favourite love as their printable maps are truly fantastic and they give you directions much like routeplanner but walkfriendly ones of course) and when I realised it was manageable and probably quicker than public transport I didn't even bother checking TfL. REPEAT SO PROUD OF MYSELF. x