BBQ season!

We are having some fab weather here in the UK at the moment! Loving it.

Sorry for lack of postage! Here is a quick recap...

Friday was my day off so started with a bowl of strawbs and natural yogurt. Then off to the pet shop to get supplies and then £stretcher for some plant pots.

Went to see one of my best mates Nat to see her 2 new kitties! Soooooooooooooooo cute!!!

Then stopped off at starbucks on the way home for a caramel lite frappachino- god I love thoses. And not too bad at 3 ww points for a grande. It feels like a real treat.

Lunch I was running sooo late and was starving and hate to stop at another friends so stopped at Macdonoalds- I know not healthy but I opted for a chicken sub with salad for 7 points so was not too naughty!!!

After stopping at Cat's for a bit went to B&Q and Homebase to get some more plants etc for the garden. Then got home about 4.20 and spent 2 hours planting and repotting. Also put a hanging basket together.

Dinner was noodles and satay prawn. Really nice :-) Then a few of us went to Cat & Tylers for a few drinkies in the garden. Lush day really :-)

Saturday we went to the Bluebell woods with my sis (Charlotte), Ryan and Connor. Took a picnic and had a fab time. Really nice hot day and great to spend time with my fave people.

Then back home for more gardening pimping. Saturday a load of us are went out and we had a VIP section in the club with Champers. I ended up not having dinner as was rushing to get ready and come 2am Phil was pleading for us to go and get food. So we drunkardly strolled to the kebab shop for a cheeseburger/kebab!! I know bad times.

Sunday was a miracle that I wasn't hungover and for breakfast I had a bowl of Cinnamon Grahams. We then got some free garden furniture of some friends which is great so we can now eat dinner outside!! So for lunch/dinner we had a BBQ. We had burgers (mine was wrapped in a lettuce leaf), beef kebobs, salad, tomato and mozzarella and potato salad. Yummy.

Yesterday I had breakfast outside as it was sooo hot- glass of water and cereal. Then did some work and then sweated it out in the garden planting stuff. Snack was an Activia yogurt.

Lunch I made a prawn and courgette pasta with a homemade pesto I did. Really delish.

For dinner we wanted to use our mini bucket BBQ so we had a chicken breast with sun-dried tomato and basil marinade and teriyaki skewers with salad. The salad was with feta and walnuts- lush!

I was supposed to go to weight watchers weigh in Monday night but I felt like I'd eaten too much and expected a gain so didn't go. But woke up this morning and new there was one at 9.30am. I went and put on 0.5lb so not as terrible as I thought. I think the main reason is since me feeling better from my clod bug thing I hadn't got back into my exercise. Back on track now!

So now to today! Breakfast was poached egg on toast and cup of tea :-)

Lunch I had a veggie burger in a roll with salad. Followed by an Activia yogurt.

In the afternoon I eased myself back in with a 30 min cross trainer workout. Then I chilled out for a bit to read through my two books that arrived this morning. The books to the Sex and the City Movies. I'm not reading the 2nd one until I see the film on Friday though!! Can't wait.

Right off to watch the Lost finale!!!!

Weekend has flown by!

There was so much I wanted to do this weekend but just didn't get time!!

Yesterday we went to Bloxfest. It was a mini festival in my village and it was really good. Except the weather wasn't very good. If the sun had been out it would have been a fantastic day. We left there about 3pm and Phil dropped me off at Lydia's house to have a few drinks with Lydia and Cat. Anyway add many more drinks and my best friend Niccie driving 3 hours to join us and I finally get to bed at 1am!

My sister Charlotte and my little nephew Connor at Bloxfest (they are in the middle)

Today with a slight hangover Phil made an egg and bacon muffin! Sorry no pic. However it felt really heavy in my tummy and I really wish I'd had some cereal instead.

Me and Phil went to Leicester to watch the play off semi finals Leicester FC v Cardiff. At the ground they only sell pukka pies and hotdogs. Not very nutritious. We sometimes go to Nando's but we didn't have time today so I made a packed lunch. Ham salad roll, tub of tomatoes, eat natural bar, apple and also had a packet of weightwatcher crisps.

We lost the game 0-1 which was frustrating. We are still in with a chance if we beat cardiff on their own ground on Wednesday. We popped in to see Phil's Dad and Stepmum on the way home. Here are a few pics from the game.

Paul Gallagher taking a corner

Our mascot Filbert the Fox

Phil

Once home I started the dinner straight away. Made a sausage stew. It's a nice cheap meal that's a regular for us :-)

Then I had to do the online shop. This weeks meals are:

M- Lightened up chicken parmesan

T- Salmon, veg and courgette fritter

W- Lemon & thyme chicken with salad and jacket potato

T- Turkey meatballs and wholegrain pasta

F- Turkey burgers and salad

S- Chilli beef buckwheat noodles

S- tuna fishcakes and salad

Right bedtime for me!

xx

Woo hoo Friday!

Today It was my day off which was fab!! Had a lay in until about 8.45 as we stayed up to watch some of the election footage.

Breakfast was 2 oatibix. I'm not as keen on these as normal weetabix but still taste ok.

I then went into town and had a little look round but didn't get anything except pay for the parking ticket! As it was my day off i decided to go see my sister...she wasn't in. So i thought i'll pop in and see mum...wasn't in. So I thought i'll go see my best friend Cat...NOT IN! Lol.

So went home and watched an episode of Biggest Loser Austrailia. Tonight is the finale! Then I experimented with a new cupcake flavour- Lime and Coconut. I only tried a bite of one just to check the flavour. Pretty yummy actually.

Lunch was a pitta pizza with salad. I had a little grilled hallomi on my salad- yummy! I love these wholemeal pitta pizza's. They work out at 3.5 points each!

I then did 30 mins on the cross trainer (I'm watching Love actually at the mo while i'm on it). Then spent 15 mins doing shuttle runs and skipping. God running is so hard! I have a long way to go!

Lydia popped round for a catch up and then I got dinner on the go. I did egg fried rice with veg, prawns and chicken. I use fry light and wholegrain rice so it's healthy. It was really yummy. And worked out at 7 points for a nice big portion.

Then at 9pm me and Phil went swimming for 45 mins. I worked pretty hard. Please I managed 2 workouts today.

After swimming I was starving so had a bowl of Maple Pecan Crunch cereal.

So now i'm sat in bed knackered! Off to read Michelle Bridges Crunch Time- yes it arrived today!!!!!! Looking forward to reading it.

Tomorrow we are going to Bloxfest which is a big village fayre in the village my parents live in and where I grew up.

Pinch punch 1st of the month!

It's May! Which means it's getting near to summer!!! Please please lets us have a nice summer this year. Surely it's our turn??

We had milk this morning so that meant I could have my oatmeal! Yay! With Almond butter, nutella and chopped walnuts. Happy I got my oatmeal fix.

Today me and Phil went into town. Stopped in the chinese supermarket for a few bits. Picked up these spicy crispy seaweed. They are my new favourite snack! Soooo yummy. However I must admit the whole bag was finished today so I need to buy some more!

On our stop at Holland and Barratt I picked up a selection of new snack/cereal bars to add to my treat box. Will let you know what they are like as I eat them.

Mum and my nephew Connor popped round this afternoon. Mum bought some sweet pea plants for me to put in the garden and me and Connor played a new game he had bought.

For lunch I had some pea and bean salad with some dim sum. Was really yummy. I love steamed dim sum! :-) The pea and bean salad came with a delicious mint dressing. Need to try and recreate that.

Then me and Phil did a load of things round the house. I clean out cupboards and got rid of food we hadn't used or just didn't want and Phil put up some shelves in a cupboard in our conservatory so we have some extra storage.

Dinner was chicken breast in teriyaki with peas, brown rice and the courgette fritters again. Loving those :-)

I'm currently sat waiting for my hair dye to develop (doing my roots) and then i'm thinking of some pudding. Maybe some coconut ice cream! Hmm.

Tomorrow I think we'll have a pretty chilled day and then I'm going out for a few drinks in the evening with my best mate Cat so looking forward to that. Just hope the rain stops!!!

Anyway I must go wash my hair!!!

What are people doing for this bank holiday weekend?

Date night

Evening campers. Hope everyone has had a fab day.

Started the day with 2 poached eggs on toast. Not had it for a while and I was really craving it! Yummy.

Then had a long chat with one of my best friends on the phone (Cat) for about an hour about random stuff!!! Then pretended to do some work for a bit and stopped for lunch about 12.30. We had a bowl of New Covent Garden Plum Tomato and Basil soup with a slice of granary. Really tasty.

Then had a catch up on the blogs I follow and had an espresso before doing a workout on the cross trainer. I did 30 mins of high intensity intervals.

I still cannot wait for the new Sex and the City movie. So so excited. It's my all time favourite series. I can watch the box set over and over.

Was looking through some old music today and found loads of old gems! Made myself a new playlist for workouts and when in the car (when Phil isn't with me as he won't stand for this!). Bit Girl Powerish!

Labels Or Love-Fergie
All Dressed In Love-Jennifer Hudson
Say It (Hott 22 Remix)-Booty Luv
The Spell-Alphabeat
U Wanna Little of This (Ali Payami Radio Edit)-Ricki-Lee
I'm Coming Out-Amerie
Gimme More-Britney Spears
When You Look At Me-Chritina Milian
Daylight (feat. Gym Class Heroes)-Kelly Rowland
Mjb Da Mvp-Mary J. Blige
Scandalous-Mis-Teeq
Dance Your Cares Away-Mis-Teeq

Me and Phil decided to go out for dinner tonight for a date as we haven't been on one for ages. Had a weightwatchers peanut bar for my afternoon snack and then got myself ready.

We decided to go to Voujon which is a Bangladeshi restaurant that has recently opened in Banbury. Popadoms to start :-)

Phil and me at the restaurant

For my starter I had Chicken Pakora which was soo good and so were the dips you get with it.

For main I had Shahi Jhinga bhuna which was king prawns cooked in garlic, tomatoes, onion and spices. And me and Phil shared a portion of rice and a Naan bread.

We decided to save our pennies and not get dessert and coffee at the restaurant and went to Tesco and got some Dulce Gusto Latte Macchiato and Carte Dor Coconut Ice Cream.

After all this i'm stuffed and yes I know it's not been a great day healthy wise but we hadn't been out for ages so felt a treat was ok!

A nice day but not gone to plan!

Today was a lovely sunny day. Started off with a bowl of oatbran. Delish! Loving it more than porridge at the mo. Think i'll add some sliced banana next time :-)



Then we went into town and met one of my best friends Lydia for a cup of tea and catch up. Then bought some fruit and flowers from the market then off to the supermarket for some bits for the BBQ later.

I've been craving seafood for the past few days so decided on a scallop salad for my lunch. Added a bit of soy sauce whilst they were in the pan. It was sooo yummy.




Phil did some bits in the garden and got the BBQ ready. I decided to make it a bit healthier and not have burgers but fish instead. So put some sea bass with sea salt and pepper on and also some chilli prawn skewers. I also did some minted lamb steaks as they are our absolute favourite! I also had 3 chicken wings though which i shouldn't have really had! Oops.




My sister, her other half Ryan and my nephew Connor popped round for a bit. Connor loves playing in the garden when he's here as at the moment they live in a flat and don't have a garden. Bless him.

I didn't do a workout today so i felt pretty bad so told Phil we'd walk to tesco so it wasn't a complete write off! Pic below of Phil on route!






On the way i got a bug stuck in my mouth! Yuk! And it wouldn't go!! I was freaking out so had to buy an apple to dislodge it! lol

Once back home i made a "breakfast cookie". These i found on a fab blog i follow The Fitnessista. They look so yummy i've made one ready for tomorrow and posted the recipe version i did with UK conversion.

45g oats
30 ml milk (i used rice milk)
1 heaped tbsp almond butter (or any nut butter)
1/2 scoop protein powder (i used choc maxitone sculptress or you could sub by putting some cocoa powder)

Mix all these into a bowl until a crumbley mix. Add the milk slowly until all mixed in.

Then you can add pretty much whatever you like. I added a pinch of cinnamon and half a mashed banana. But you could add seeds, nuts, raisins, choc chips etc

Put onto a plate and spread with back of spoon until even then put in fridge until morning. Then eat with a spoon. I know it says cookie but it's a bit softer than a cookie so spoon is needed!





So you'll prob thinking not a bad day food wise yet. Well after making the cookie i had a galaxy bubble (so good though) and then my downfall- Chilli Heatwave Doritos and Salsa! Phil wanted them and I couldn't not have them! Must try harder!


Couple of other pics. One is me and my best friend Cat (who i'm bridesmaid for in Sept) out last weekend (the sambuca night!) and the other is my nephew Connor with one of our cats Daisy.








Hope everyone is having a fab weekend.

Jess xoxo