Busy bee

Sorry for not posting, with starting the new job and having millions of Cupcake orders I haven't had much time.

Trouble was as before I knew I had a job I rammed my diary for January with cake orders but at least now I can plan my weeks better.

Here is a couple of pics of cakes I did last week for a wedding.

I'm focusing at the moment at looking at our finances again as i have a job, so updating our monthly budgets and re-reading Martin Lewis' "Money Diet" and try and get ourselves back on track.

I've been eating better but still not great, it's a work in progress. I think now I'm not as manic with cake orders and work I can plan meals a bit better.

I'm loving my new job, it's so much less stressful than my previous ones. Thank god!!

Anyway it's a short post today as it's bedtime and I want to read a bit before bed.

Jess xx

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year guys. I'm using the New Year to wake myself up and get back on the health wagon. It's been a tough 6 months being out of work and being out of a routine means my health, fitness etc has gone a bit awol.

I have a 2nd interview tomorrow and I'm really hoping it will give me a fresh start. It's a lot less money than I've been on but being out of work since July means we've had nothing coming in apart from Phil's salary and some from the Cupcake business. Plus I want a less stressful job, get out of the corporate world that took over my life so i can still continue to focus on the business. The great things about this job are: 1. It's the type of job you can leave at work, my previous ones have pretty taken over my life so this is a great plus. 2. It's literally a 3 minute drive (or half hour walk) before i was driving about 3.5 hours a day. 3. The people seem friendly and my friend Kirsty works there and if i get the job and pass 6 month probation we get £1000 to share!

Ok so my New Years Resolutions:

1. Do more yoga- loving kundalini

2. Exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes minimum

3. Choose healthier options for food

4. Find more inspiring blogs to follow

5. Continue to push the cupcake business and the china hire business

6. Start getting back on track financially when I have a job. Going to take a while but make a plan and do as much as we can.

7. Blog more, the fact the last 6 months I've been a bit meh means blogging has gone down, I love doing it and helps me keep on track so this is a big focus. Also my Jessica's Cupcakes Blog to drive more business.

8. Do more things with Phil- money being a major issue we haven't done a lot this year. So making more of an effort to get out and look at cheaper things to do together. Spending more quality time together rather than sat in front of the TV.

I've decided to do a new Inspiration board over this week. I enjoyed doing one last year but I want some fresh focus. The Fitnessita has just done a great post on Inspiration boards. Check it out.

Right I'm going to finish my Cherry choc smoothie and start on the inspiration board and get a session in on the cross trainer. It's been a long while so i don't know what to expect!

Jess xx

When the weather outside is frightful...

Sooo sorry I haven't posted for over a week. I've been in a bit of a gloomy place. Mixture of dreary weather and not having a job. feeding ourselves is becoming quite difficult with no money. So meals haven't been fantastic, it's been operation use what's in the cupboards. So lots of pasta, potatoes, cous cous, random freezer stuff etc. I'm really hating it as I lurve cooking and love nothing better than looking for delish healthy recipes to cook.

I have a little money to get some food shopping today but not a lot. Things on the menu this week are mexican potatoes, healthy turkey lasagne, Veg risotto and spanish chicken thighs.

On a good note I have an interview tomorrow! Yay! It's for a care assistant in a nursing home. Totally different to what i've done (IT Project management) and about a £25,000 pay drop but I've always wanted to do a job that's worthwhile, helping people. I was scared before as I got caught up in the corporate world, getting promoted and a bigger pay rise that I couldn't possibly leave my high paid job for such a low salary. But now I have nothing so it's not as scary, i'll be getting something. I just want to know I have a certain amount of money coming in each month and I can try and make extra with the Cupcake business. Wish me luck for my interview!!

Today we have our letting agents coming for a house inspection and then I have a laday coming to sample cupcakes for her wedding. Then food shopping.

The weather here has changed so much, it's so cold and rainy. I love the winter but hate the rain that comes with it!!!

Right I'm off to eat some breakfast. Catch ya laters.

Jess

Happy Monday!

Weekends go by sooooooo quickly!

Today I had a cupcake class with a lovely lady who is setting up a cupcake business in Stow on the Wold. We did a lot of xmas style cakes as that's what she wanted. Great fun and got me in the xmas mood!!!

Breakfast this morning was oats with peanut butter, choc spread and some seeds. After reading lots of fellow bloggies having theirs I was craving it!!

After my class I went to see my friend Lydia for a cuppa and then popped to the farm shop and got these goodies.

Pumpkin and mascarpone for my pumpkin risotto i'm making, a gem squash which i'll do something with and some Speltotto- an organic spelt risotto so have to try it!!!

Lunch wasn't until 3 but worth the wait. Brown rice udon noodles with veg and teriyaki tofu.

Dinner was egg fried quinoa with prawns. Yummy.

A few other eats where a few squares of dark chocolate, some ginger nut biscuits and some vanilla rice milk.

I've got another cupcake class tomorrow so need to bake some cuppies for that and then I think a chillax with Phil on the sofa is in order :-)

Boxes, boxes and more boxes

Sorry i've been crap at posting, this moving malarky is crazy!!! One week today we'll be in our new house!!!

Anyway here's a few eats this week. I've been good most of the week but today not! Had afternoon tea with the girls and I made loads of baked treats! Need to try and be good over the weekend. I really need a weight loss at weight watchers on Tuesday as I've been struggling for a while.

Sweetcorn and bacon chowder (weight watchers recipe)

Prawn and lite mayo jacket spud with salald

Afternoon tea

I've managed to get a few vintage china peices this week. I collect them. For two reasons I want an English Tea Party theme for my wedding one day and I also want to set up a Vintage China Hire business to go along side www.jessicascupcakes.com Once I get some pictures (they are all packed away) I'll post some up.

Today I also did some anniversary cupcakes.

Right I need to go and do some more packing and get the dining room ready for tomorrows cupcakes class!

Slim Fast day 3

Hi guys, I posted a few days ago that i'm going onto slim fast for a week or maybe 2. It's not something i'd normally consider as I'm more about eating healthy food but due to eating so much on holiday I want to let my stomach get used to eating smaller portions again. We'll see how it goes. Day 3 and not so bad. Obviously i'm not going to post my breakfast and lunch pics as it's slimfast- nothing interesting. But will mention some of the snacks and dinners.

I had an awesome salad form Marks @ Spencer on Sunday. Defo buying that again.

Monday snacks included: apple, 2 ryvita with hummus. Dinner was chicken and veg stirfry

Tuesday snacks included: 2 ryvita with hummus and a small piece of chocolate brownie (not healthy but I made them so had to try :-0) Dinner was spaghetti bolagnase with lean beef and homemade marinara

Today my day consisted of meeting with a lady called joy to talk about my dad's website.

Made some cupcakes

and did house stuff and work for my dad. I had to stay in all day to have my blackberry swapped as it's broken. But they didn't come- some technical problem! Very annoyed as I stayed in all day!! It's coming Thursday now- I hope!

Today I have a major sushi craving so might go to Oxford for some Yo Sushi tomorrow :-) Also means I can go to Bravissimo to get a new sports bra and a strapless bra. I love bravissimo- it's a lush bra shop for the bigger boob'd ladies!

Right it's bedtime!!

Jess xx