So towards the end of January, I went on a Fitness Weekend being hosted by Alex Crockford, with Replenish You, held in a beautiful manor house in Loughborough. I will share with you soon as to why I did this and all the amazing details covering the exercise and food over various blog posts but before, that I thought I would share some of the photos I took over the weekend to send back to my children – rather fitting as we have just celebrated mother’s day – and just to prove the point that no matter where you are, even when having some me time, you are always a mum!
I know that I am usually all about all things healthy and fitness, but the odd sweet treat can be good for the soul too!
We were very lucky as a family to be invited to the launch of the world’s first 3D printer for Candy at the official opening of Mr Simm’s Olde Sweet Shoppe in Bromley. Powered by magic, obviously, Katjes Magic Candy Factory 3D printer is amazing to watch in action.
I was introduced to this amazing site by my friend and I think it’s too good not to share! I’ve told so many others about it already, I really felt it deserved a blog post!
My kids sitting quietly – read on to find out how and why!
If your kiddies (or you) are into drawing, then this is the site for you. Run by Rob – a dad of four, he takes you through step by simple step to create amazing works of art. The kids (and you) will never feel intimidated by his amazing artistic talent as he always has one of his children doing the drawing at the same time. Read More »
My Blue One loves his football! His first words (after the obligatory ‘mama’ and ‘dada’) were ball and goal – so we knew early on! Think it’s in his genetics as his daddy is a pretty good player himself! The Blue One has been attending football sessions with AW Football Coaching since he was two years old! He’s now four – so he’s been playing for half his life!!! :-He adores his Coach Alex and really looks up to him – and Alex is great with the kids. How he remembers all their names is a mystery to me!
The Blue One loves it and actually attends four sessions a week (that’s 3.5 hours of football a week, occasionally a bit more if he goes to a Friday session too!) – we’re enjoying the ability to do this as much as we can as he starts school in September and this will obviously all change. It’s amazing watching someone so young, who actually has a talent, but thoroughly enjoying himself at the same time as well as getting lots of exercise and keeping fit! I love that my kids love being so active! It’s wonderful!
I started following Naturelly on Twitter and got a message politely asking if I’d like some of their Jelly Juices for my kiddies to try – I happily accepted, though I knew my Blue One wouldn’t try them because he’s a fuss bum I also knew my Pink One would leap at the chance of trying a new type of jelly!
A few days later they arrived in the post – and then I had a thought (dangerous I know – it doesn’t happen often), maybe I could make a video of my Pink One trying them and then have a play on iMovies and create a proper little video (any excuse to play around in iMovies – could lose days to that program!) So we set her up at a table – with the three flavours of Jelly Juice – and I filmed her – all of the responses she gave were her own opinion and each taste was literally the first time she had them! I may be biased, but I think she’s a natural! (watch out for a cameo from the Blue One!)
Did she like them? Did she have a favourite? The only way to know is to watch the video below!!! My very first (or should I say the Pink One’s) first vlog!
She had so much fun! I think she likes being in front of the camera! 😛 I really do think she is Naturelly Brilliant!!!
Would your kids give these a go? Have they tried them already? Let me know your thoughts on Facebook/Twitter or comment below! 🙂 xxx
This is not a sponsored post – it was completely our own idea – but the lovely people at Naturelly loved the Pink One’s video so much they are sending her some more Jelly Juices as a thank you! 🙂
By this I mean we did lots of ducking and diving, not that I tried to get out of it! As if I would, my Boxercise is my weekly sanity lifeline – this is one of things that really helps with my anxiety! Multiple benefits of exercise, not being able to think of anything else and possibly the fun of getting to hit things!!! A good stress reliever!
Kitted Out – Making it look glam! ;-P
So for the warm up, there were slow jabs to one side, then fast jabs, then repeated on the other side. Skipping, skipping from one side to the other. A skip back, then skip forward touch the ground – this needed coordination which I seem to be slightly lacking in! High legs jogging on the spot and various other things – whew, we were well and truly warmed up!Read More »
Firstly, I obviously have to mention world book day – my two went as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger! They looked so cute! I made an effort and put 10 plaits in the Pink Ones hair so that when we took them out she had the bushy hair Hermione is known for. They were so excited, they have been counting down the days until they could wear their costumes to school!
World’s Cutest Harry Potter She Really is the Brightest Witch of her Age!So after drop off, I met my friend Rachael back at my house as I was going swimming! As you may have read in one of my previous posts, it’s a new years resolution of mine to learn to swim – well since then I’ve managed only one session with Rachael and then it all went a bit manic with assignments, half term and poorly kids! So it’s been about a month (maybe more) and I have to admit I was more nervous this time than on the first.
So nervous I couldn’t stop shaking when taking a pre-swim selfie!!!The part of the pool we used last time had a fitness session going on. Then we were told there was going to be a school class so we’d have to move down. For a few moments I thought it meant our whole session was going to be in the section of the pool where I couldn’t touch the bottom and my anxiety went into overdrive – I admit I even cried, but fortunately we had a good section of the pool and I was able to touch the bottom – so took a deep breath and we got working.
Rachael really helped me with my breaststroke technique, working on my leg kick, making sure I completed the cycle and squeezed my legs to get the full propulsion through the water, even doing some work with a float. The trying to get the process right…
Pull, Breath, Kick, Glide
Definitely easier said than done – but I will be chanting this mantra until my body does it automatically! The majority of this was completed with head out of the water, as I’d misplaced my goggles, so I was wearing my hubby’s and the left eye kept filling with water! Most annoying! I have subsequently located my ones!
I did monkey down to the deep end, but no matter how logical I was and how much I spoke it through with Rachael – I could not let go of the edge and glide or swim. I got so nervous at one point I actually got cramp in my foot!!!
This pathological fear of the deep end and going through the water under my own steam without panicking is exhausting. So I didn’t manage it this time, which is disappointing, but my swimming is getting stronger (and Rachael assures me I can swim), so, and I said it out loud to Rachael that on our next session I would start in the deep end! I may regret saying this next week, but this problem is literally an argument with my own head! I will conquer it and I just appreciate Rachael being so calm and patient with me!
Once home, I did my usual studies – both Technologies in Practice and some Maths.
Then I was off to my Boxercise class! The session was amazing, but seriously tough! We were doing Boxercise to the Beat (named after my previous blog post!). For our warm up we were bouncing to the beat in southpaw and then two jabs, two hooks – repeated a few times, then some squats, punches to the floor, then back to bouncing, two jabs, two hooks, two uppers and two lower uppers. Then we bounced into the orthodox position and did the same.
Next, pads and gloves on, in southpaw we had to bounce in time with our partner and the beat, jabbing for five, high leg lifts for five, until Michelle called out and then we had to do 10 jabs and 10 high leg lifts, finally 15 of each. In between swapping to orthodox, we had to do some squats and punches to the floor ,then repeating the whole interval. Then we had to swap pads/gloves. The constant moving was intense, it was brutal.
We then had some floor work, 15 curl ups and 15 leg reaches, some of us were then skipping, while others were doing one leg stands from the benches, this was repeated three times. The we had to do 15 push ups and now those of us that been skipping had to do try and do the one leg stands – they were really hard (and I was starting to feel the swimming from the morning) – one of the ladies worked out it was easier to do if you crossed your leg over the top of the one you were standing up on. Again repeated three times. Finally, again repeated three times, we did a 30 second plank followed by 30 seconds of high leg running.
So glad for the cool down that’s for sure! If you want to come along to a session – find all the details at Michelle’s Facebook page for Foxlee Fitness. I think I may be feeling all this exercise over the next few days! Hopefully it’s doing me go!!! haha!!!
So how do you deal with anxiety or facing a fear? I’d love to know! 🙂 xxx
Even though Janathon is over I’ve still got my weekly Boxercise class, so thought I do a weekly round up of the class anyway! It’s such a good mood booster it deserves sharing!
I really wasn’t sure if I’d go tonight as my tummy was feeling a bit sore (stupid IBS), but Thursday is my OU study day so getting out for my exercise class is much needed after a whole day in front of my computer and not really talking with anyone!
So to warm up tonight we played a game of catch – whilst wearing pads or gloves, running around and avoiding the cones on the floor! If you dropped what was thrown to you or trod on a cone, then you had to do high leg jogging on the spot until someone freed you!
Next warm up exercise was a game of ‘Oi, you!’
Those in pads line up on one side and those in gloves on the other – the one in the pads had to point at someone wearing gloves and say, you guessed it, ‘Oi, you!’. To which you had to run over and do 20 jabs run back and wait till you’re yelled at again!
Next was an interesting exercise set, you had to walk in the squat position – which basically made you look like you’d crapped yourself, you then had to do five high leg overs the person holding the pad out, using the right leg, and go along the line – then repeat the squat walk and do the high leg overs with the left leg!
Next up was the pyramid of pain as I like to affectionately refer to it which entailed:
10 Alternative Jabs – 10 Push Ups
20 Uppercuts – 20 Squats
30 Alternative Jabs – 30 Push Ups
40 Uppercuts – 40 Squats
30 Alternative Jabs – 30 Push Ups
20 Uppercut – 20 squats
10 Alternative Jabs – 10 Push Ups
The squats seriously burned!!! The person in the pads had to do squats or jumping jacks when the one in the gloves was doing their push ups or squats.
Final exercise session for the evening was those in pads lining up again, those in gloves having to run up and five kicks with your right leg, then five knee kicks and continue down the line then run back round and repeat with the left leg! My arms ached a lot when wearing the pads – holding them up for the knee kick! Then it was cool down time – phew!!! Think my arms and thighs are going to be feeling it tomorrow!
If you’re in the Sidcup/Blackfen/Bexley area come along! It’s an awesome session, details – here – and below… What’s your favourite exercise class? Share with me in the comments below! :-)xxx
It was back to Boxercise with Michelle from Foxlee Fitness tonight and boy did I need it! I was in a bit of mood after my Blue One was a bit of silly bugger this afternoon and I just couldn’t shake it – he wasn’t naughty enough for me to get really cross and tell him off, but he was one stubborn sod!
Boxercise was the best medicine for a bad mood!
We had a good warm up (which included jump lunges – ouch!)
First round we gloved and padded up – and in our pairs stood orthodox (which is right foot forward) and then 10 jabs starting with the right hand and alternating, then 10 jabs with the right hand. Swap feet – so left foot forward, and 10 jabs starting with the left hand and alternating, then 10 jabs with the left hand. Boxer’s bounce for 90 degrees and repeat – we did this four times.
Then to raise our hard rates we had to do jump lunges – they burn, after a while my legs wouldn’t jump anymore!
Next, back to orthodox but now it was 10 alternate hooks starting with right hand, then 10 hooks with just the right hand, swap feet 10 more hooks starting with the left, then 10 hooks with just the left. Boxer’s bounce 90 degrees and repeat, so again four times. After which we did 15 tuck jumps three times (I may have done some squats instead – but shhhh)
We were now finished with the pads and gloves, and Michelle set us up in four groups – we were going to do circuits. I started with Chair kicks – so, no, we didn’t actually kick the chairs – we stood behind a chair and then brought a leg up and over – 30 on each leg (I have to confess, I actually quite enjoyed this one)
Next up, ladder squats, jump in squat, jump out squat – then there were cones setup where you had to jump two footed into a squat – we had to go round as many times as it took for the other groups who were doing the counting activities to finish.
Activity three were bench lunges, one foot up on the bench and then 30 lunges, swap legs and repeat – this was the one I liked doing least – the burn was quite incredible!
Final activity, chair hurdles, small hurdle on the floor, facing the chair, hold the sizes of the seat and jump over the hurdle from side to side and keep going till Michelle said stop! It was hardcore – but so good! Though I must admit, as we did this circuit twice, on my second lot of chair hurdles – I did stop and do some tricep dips instead!
Then a cool down!
All in all, a wonderful, intense workout and my mood was greatly improved! Got to appreciate exercise for making you feel happier don’t you? Not bad for Janathon Day 21! Tomorrow will be somewhat more subdued me thinks as I wait for the aches of tonight’s workout to catch up with me! Haha!
How is everyone else’s Janathon going? Would love to hear – I’ve enjoyed reading some of your blogs, which I had time to read more! 🙂 xxx
Today was just a really lovely day, despite the rainy weather, for a number of reasons;
It started with taking the Blue One to a taster session of Saturday football that his coach (Coach Alex of AW Football Coaching) invited him to. The Blue One has been doing football sessions since he was about two with Coach Alex, who he adores, starting at a toddlers session at North Cray Children’s Centre – he now attends an improvers session at Falconwood and does another session at Sidcup Youth Centre.
At this session, the Blue One and three or four other ‘little’ boys his age got to see what exciting things they have in store for when they get bigger and they got to play with the ‘big’ boys – who are all of about 4 and 5, but when you’re still only 3 that’s quite a difference!
My Blue One had a fab time and was totally in his element, not nervous or intimidated at all, and he ran around for a full hour! Good going when you’ve only got little legs and it was raining! He chatted to me about it non-stop after he loved it so much, but he now thinks he’s going to be playing football 3 times a week!!! I on the other hand now realise I am a ‘soccer mum’ – oh dear! Must remember not to keep calling out… haha!
What the Blue One loved about football today
The boy and I then popped into the Card Factory after, and if you follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram you may already know this, but the nicest thing happened, whilst queuing to pay for our purchases the Blue One was chatting to me about the Spider-Man balloon he liked and maybe he could have it for his birthday, he was then chatting with the lady behind us in the queue. Just as we finished paying the lady asked if we could wait 5 minutes, and then said to the Boy “the lady in the shop has a surprise for you as you’re such a good helper to your mummy, happy new year” and then she was gone and she’d bought him the Spider-Man balloon – I was overwhelmed and speechless! Bought tears to my eyes, such kindness and I don’t even know her name – but Thank You, she made my boys (and my) day! The kindness of a stranger has definitely restored my faith in humanity!!!
Very pleased with his kind gift!
So on that high we headed home, where the hubby had sorted out the front room as we’ve hired a RugDoctor to clean our carpet, so we did that for the afternoon and then we were all confined to the kitchen and conservatory as the carpet has to dry – which it is doing, slowly!
It was at this time I decided to go for my run! So this is my actual Janathon activity for day 9. I managed a 6km run! I was pretty chuffed with that, because at the 2km mark I thought I may have to stop and walk home as my ankles were really hurting, but I plodded on and it did ease, it’s annoying as the rest of my legs felt strong and my breathing was good and for once my brain wasn’t telling me I couldn’t do it – so I am proud that I kept going. My legs, which were still feeling achy and a bit stiff after my Boxercise class, now actually feel much looser and better after my run which is great – and I made sure I stretched properly after my run, especially my ankles.
My Pink One demonstrating perfect leg stretches – how straight is that leg!? She also rather likes mummy’s Buff!Some sinister after run selfies!
On a little side note, I also got an email telling me one of my Redbubble images had been sold as a greetings card – I made all of 15p – but someone bought one of my images, it’s so exciting, I am very happy! Here’s a link to the image and a link to my previous post about my Redbubble.
I was pretty chuffed with that, because at the 2km mark I thought I may have to stop and walk home as my ankles were really hurting, but I plodded on and it did ease, it’s annoying as the rest of my legs felt strong and my breathing was good and for once my brain wasn’t telling me I couldn’t do it – so I am proud that I kept going.
My legs, which were still feeling achy and a bit stiff after my Boxercise class, now actually feel much looser and better after my run which is great – and I made sure I stretched properly after my run, especially my ankles.
Jog on Mum 