The Christmas DRESSES & Final Weigh In 2014

Happy Christmas to each and everyone of you that take the time to read my blog :) 

So the "12 weeks to Christmas Challenge"" that The Skinny Doll organised is over, can you believe it? 

It flew by I thought. To see how every one got out, check it out here 

So when I wrote my guest post for the Skinny Dolls Blog, it was about feeling confident for Christmas in a nice dress.. >>> post here<<< 

I decided that I would show you that I did go out over Christmas and I enjoyed the parties.

I tried not to be self conscious (tough to break the habit of a life time) and I didn't hide in the corner minding the handbags :)

This purple dress is from New Look and I wore this to my work Christmas party. It was nice and bright and not black for a change

Work Xmas Party

Not the best photo here, but this was the dress I wore for my mums 50th birthday party and I don't think I've ever gotten such a fab reaction being out, my family were full of compliments on how great I was looking, it was such a confidence boost I can tell you :) I could have kissed the lot of them, I took them at their word and accepted the compliments :)

Not sure where this dress is from, its been in the wardrobe at least 2 years!! 

Mums 50th Birthday

I know my nail post have been lacking this year, but it doesn't mean that I haven't been painting my nails. 

I have :) (you'll see them on instagram)  so below is a photo of my Christmas nail art attempts

Christmas nail art

Christmas nail art

My last weigh in for the year was this morning and I was up 2.5lb

My plan is to enjoy the holidays/ break.. Accept whatever the scales give mes on New Years Day and start fresh 

Weight lost to date: 8.5lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

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#IrishbbloggersSS14 Big Reveal Day

Let me start by saying a HUGE thank you once again to Aisling from Total MakeUp Addict for organizing this fabulous Secret Santa extravaganza :) 
It was so exciting last month waiting to see who I would be shopping for and following the hastag #irishbbloggersSS14 (Irish Beauty Bloggers Secret Santa 2014) on twitter. I've found loadsa new fab blogs to follow since this has started :) 

I was so excited to come home for work and find a package waiting for me :) My lil niece and nephew were as excited as I was to open them, luckily I managed to take a pick before the 2 and 5 year old let loose :) 

My secret Santa was Michelle  from Michellealice and she sent me two gorgeous presents :)

I'm a HUGE Soap & Glory fan, so I  was delighted with this S&G set :) 

Inside was Hand Food hand cream, (my fave) Scrub & happiness dry hand smoothing scrub,

a nail file and 2 nail polishes, well one colour and a top coat. 

Very Berry nail polish is a beautiful berry/ wine/ red / burgundy colour, there was a lovely light catching shimmer and it was a two coater.. very Christmassy and it got plenty of attention :) 

Soap & Glory Very Berry

Soap & Glory Very Berry

My other present was a set of 3 very pretty make up bags, who doesn't love make up bags, my 2 year old niece was very fond of these.. but luckily I won in the end.. lol 

I want to say a huge thank you to Michelle for the lovely presents :) Love them :) 

I got Bernie from Beauty Minx Blog as my secret santa, click over to her blog to see what I sent her :) 

I can't wait to see what everyone got in their posts. Aisling has posted a list of everyone that was involved over on her blog today.. link here 

Christmas and me & Weigh In 11

I’ve always been a “Christmas Person” I own more Christmas jumpers and earrings than I’m willing to admit too.. I love getting the Boots/ Argos/ Smyth/ Littlewoods Xmas books in September and pouring over it to see what’s coming in and choosing special presents for people and for me (sure why not.)

I love driving around to see the lights people put up outside their houses, with the Christmas tunes on (obvs) Me and my friends even take photos of our Christmas tree’s as soon as they go up to show each other, before we go to visit each tree (yes, this is a thing) 

I could talk Christmas stuff all day, the toy show, the children singing, the carols, the songs, the Santy hats, the decorations on houses and in shopping center, people everywhere and I mean everywhere, wrapping paper, presents, bows, cribs, baubles, nights out, lotsa booze and lotsa over eating….

Yip, I think of all of the above when I think of Christmas but I also think of the food, the Roses/ Celebrations that will be hanging around the office, the pies, cakes & biscuits that will be on offer in every house and shop that you visit and this is all in the build up to the big day.

This is before all the boxes and tins that you’ve been buying since last Halloween make an appearance and are cracked opened, enough food to feed you for months, yet we (I) take it upon myself to have an eating competition and see how I get on (I can assure you, these never end well) but I never break the cycle, I tell myself that I enjoy it. And to a degree I do, I enjoy allowing myself a “day off” to “eat whatever I want” but I don’t enjoy the other aspect of it, the belly ache, the bloated feeling, the guilts. Because for me these come hand in hand. But once I get a taste of the sugary goodness, I’m weak and I keep going, I just don’t know when to stop! I’m making myself out to be a savage and to a certain degree that’s how I behave on these days!!

All this for ONE DAY, but the eating can go on for up to 10 days!

Then I face the scales, say all the prayers possible and hope that the crazy eating won’t show up in the numbers, but of course it does and then I feel sorry. But I wasn’t at the time. At the time I was too busy enjoying stuffing my face.

I’m always very sorry after the face, but hindsight is 20/20.. I swear to myself that it will never happen again….

My Christmas Tree

I do intend to enjoy my Christmas, but I am also going to plan to be off plan if that makes sense. I am going to keep doing what I’m doing for now until my weigh in on Christmas eve.

I then plan to loosen the reins a little bit on myself and have some treats and enjoy them.

It is Christmas after all…

This year I want to break my own cycle, I don’t want to gain a stone over 2 weeks that will take me 6 months to shift (the story of 2014 for me)

I’m hoping that being aware of my self destruction button, it will help me to make wiser choices.

Weight lost to date: 11lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

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"only" lost 1lb - Weigh In Week 9 + 10

Sorry I'm so late with posting this!! The Christmas madness has hit and time is just flying by!!

Two weeks ago, I was up 1 pound and was very disappointed, its a total cop out but I'm blaming my jeans for giving me a gain that night!!

Last Thursday night I was down 1 pound, another excuse for this one, (I was hoping for a bigger loss) I weighed in on a different scales!!

The last 2 weeks weigh in's have left me feeling very disappointed BUT I refuse to give in, I feel great and I feel like I've lost wight even tho the scales hasn't confirmed this in the last 2 weeks!!

Weight lost to date: 8.5lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

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Slimming World Overnight Oats & Weigh In Week 8

How do I make my Overnight oats is a question I'm asked almost weekly on my Instagram account. its such an easy breakfast to prepare and surprisingly filling also.

So I've finally decided to write a "How To" post on it


Ingredients:
35g Quick Oats   (Healthy Extra B)
Mullerlight Yogurt (Free)
Fruit (fresh or frozen) (Superfree)

Slimming World Overnight Oats

 1. Add scoop of Oats to glass, 1 scoop = 15g Oats,

2. Next add in yogurt to cover the oats ( I used Mullerlight Vanilla with chocolate sprinkles)

3. Add in your fruit (I use frozen raspberries)

4. Repeat step one, by adding another scoop of oats (1 scoop = 15g Oats)

5. Add in the remaining yogurt

6. Top with fruit

Slimming World Overnight Oats

7. Place in Fridge overnight

8. Remove from fridge, grab spoon & enjoy

(I have to take mine out at least 30mins before I eat because its too cold, but that's just my preference)

Slimming World Overnight Oats

This is a lovely breakfast even if your not following the Slimming World Plan.
The recipe says you can use 35g of Oats, I personally just use 30g grams, because my scoops is 15g a go and its easier.

This breakfast is surprisingly filling for the size of it, I eat with my eyes and at the start thought this was tiiiiiny.. BUT... I've been proven happily wrong :)

Have you tried Overnight Oats? Or do you plan to now?
Let me know how you get on if you do try them :)

This week, I weighed in on Thursday evening, at my own group. I was  down 2.5lbs

Weight lost to date: 8.5lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

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Making Slow Progress & Weigh In Week 7

I tend to be surprised of late when people comment that I’m “looking well” it doesn't happen a lot, but when it has done I scoff and retort with “Eh no I’m not, I’m up a stone since this time last year!”

In my mind I haven’t done anything other than buy clothes in a bigger size for the last 12 months, so I can’t conceive the fact that I could be “looking well” 

BUT I haven’t given up either!! I joined Slimming World 2 weeks before I moved out of home, now if that wasn't the perfect chance to go back to my binge eating and secret eating ways, than I don’t think I’ll ever have one.

I was thrilled to be moving out but fretting and fearful that I would fall into the trap of take away’s and unhealthy habits and gain a fortune of weight.

So my Slimming World Journey to date has been sloooow, super slow if I’m being honest and that’s down to me also, but I haven’t given up. I turn up every Thursday night to see how everyone else is and how they’re doing and I can see how far they've come since we all started in April.

They compliment me, ask how my week was, and cheer when I have a loss on the scales. They don’t judge me if I’m up or down, they support me because they understand that loosing weight isn't as straight forward as we’d like it to be and sometimes life/ bad moods/ crap weather get in the way of having a “perfect week food wise”

So at the moment, I’m loosing pebbles rather than stones, but I’m feeling determined, I’m hoping that all the little pebbles that are 0.5lb & 1lb will slowly add up and my clothes will become a little looser and I’ll start to feel a little bit better about myself and a little bit more confident about facing the outside world this Christmas.

So the next time someone gives you a compliment, Smile and thank them; take it, I bet it will put an extra pep in your step.

Because people don’t say these things lightly, clearly they like what they’re seeing and can see something noticeable for them to comment and compliment.. (Or they desperately want to know where you got that dress/ scarf/ foundation / boots)

I know deflecting the comment is the way “us Irish” are programmed (and it needs to stop) so why not try to make a new and better habit and where possible return the gesture (who doesn't like getting a compliment)

This week, I weighed in a day early and at a different group.. I was down 0.5lbs

Weight lost to date: 6lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

**Photos from Google Images**

You can find me on the following:

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Guest Blogging & Weigh In Week 6

This week I'm guest blogging over on  The Skinny Doll's blog, so check it out here
This is a first for me and a BIG deal and an honour :)


Sadly I was up 1lb this week, but I'm feeling determined.

Weight lost to date: 5.5lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

You can find me on the following:

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My Christmas Gift to me & Weigh In Week 5

6 more weigh in’s (after last nights) until Christmas week!!! That’s 3 more weeks (for me) before the Christmas parties kick off for the festive season.

So realistically I need to have 3 good weeks of eating well and getting the scales moving down before.

For me this means, staying home, I know that sounds awful and not very fun, but I’m trying to stay out of temptations way, so staying in will be key, plus it will save me money aswell as lbs, which will be a bonus.

So positive thinking J and we will get there because WE CAN and WE WILL do this.

I was pretty disappointed with a loss of 0.5lbs last night, but a good week is never wasted, so hopefully it will show next week.

Last night in group we were all given a cute little Christmas tag on which we had to write down what our Christmas gift to ourselves will be.

Mine will be my 1 stone award by the end of November. 

Weight lost to date: 6.5lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

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November Goals 2014

Just a little bit of Monday Motivation, I think this is more for my benefit than yours, but I thought I would share my November goals.

4 weigh in's for November and only 8 until Christmas Day.... its almost time to start shopping for THAT sparkly dress for the Christmas party, so gotta make these few weeks count...

Halloween Nail Art 2014 & Weigh In Week 4

Halloween Nail Art

Happy Halloween to all you Gouls and Gals (sorry I couldn't resist)
I won't be celebrating apart from my nails, so I thought I'd show them off.
I usually get all excited about nail art for Halloween, but I haven't had the time or inclination this year i'm afraid!! So here's what i came up with... 2 hands = 2 different designs

LEFT HAND

Pumpkin fingers with an accent nail of the scaredy cats hiding in the dark...

Pumpkin Nails

RIGHT HAND

Lotsa scaredy cats hiding in the dark and an accent pumpkin finger.. I forgot to paint my thumb on this hand, not sure WHAT I was thinking putting in a smiley face, but it is kinda creepy isn't it?

Creepy Thumb

WHAT I USED:
OPI Nail Envy (base coast)
OPI Ridge Filler (base caot)
Orange = Missguided, Splash & Polish - Mismatch
Black = Essence - 144 -Black is black
White = Essence tip painter
Seche Vite (top coat)

I faced the scales last night expecting a gain after the long weekend, so I was pleasantly surprised to be down half a pound :)  i won't bore you with a confession of my long weekend, but it was pretty bad... I've been back to food optimising since Tuesday tho, so its all good again :) 

I'm aiming to loose 3lbs next week... if I pull my head in I can still get my Club 10 this year (loosing 10% of my weight) 
So that's 17.5lbs in 7/8 weeks.... I need a mini target to aim for.....


Weight lost to date: 6lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

My Guilty Pleasure & Weigh In Week 3

Weigh Day

For those of you that follow me on Instagram and Twitter, ye already know this weeks weigh in result.
I was down 1.5lbs, not the 4lbs I was aiming for, but a loss none the less, my group leader Fiona, has been away for the last 2 weeks and the lovely Sam has been running the group (she's fab by the way) but i'm a bit iffy about using someone elses scales.. (I'm I being silly?)

My Facebook page sadly has been neglected these last few months!!! Instagram is my obsession at the moment, because everything Slimming World is on it, and me being such a nosey Ned, I love that I get to see what everyone is eating and loosing. I know this doesn't appeal to everyone, but I do enjoy sitting down after my own dinner, posting  a photo of it and seeing what everyone else ate.. #GuiltyPleasure

If your looking for some motivation and inspiration this week, get on over to The Skinny Dolls blog and read about Verette' s story here. An amazing lady with an amazing story

Hope you had a good week, picture that dress that you have picked out for the Christmas party and keep making healthy choices so that you'll look and feel fab in it :)

Visualize THAT Christmas Dress

Weight lost to date: 5.5.0lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)

Poor Sick me & Weigh In Week 2

After last weeks weigh in, I was totally deflated to be honest with you, I'd felt that I'd had a good week and the scales sadly didn't reflect this. instead of this spurring me onto do better, it peed me off and made me want to binge, cuz at least I could tell you why I was up if I was eating shit!!!

I mentioned last week that I wasn't feeling great (is everyone affected by this crazy weather or just me?)
Last Saturday I woke up and my head cold had taken over!! I was a snotty mess to put it nicely!!

So healthy eating went out the window and I was craving all the comfort food, sugar and hot tea that I could get my paws on!! I thought it would be a 24 hour type things and the worst would pass and I would get back to "normal" ASAP..

WRONG.. I went to work on Monday, got sent home, went to bed, every time I would blow by nose (which was a lot by the way) the room would spin, not good!! So I stayed home from work on Tuesday, slept and stayed wrapped up on the couch all day long sipping Lemsips & eating rubbish (my cold insisted)

I went back to work on Wednesday and was starting to feel better, I also ate well at work, which was progress... baby steps, but progress non the less...

HOWEVER, the little devil that lives in the back of my brain was whispering in my ear "have something nice tonight, sure you'll be up anyways, so might aswell have something nice now.. go on..." So the boy was sent to the garage to buy me a creamy car and chocolate.


I'm not proud of my behavior, nor am I condoning it.. I'm just telling ye what happened!! This was my week and this is my truth!!


So I went to group on Thursday night, expecting a gain because lets face it, I deserved it...

I was up 0.5lbs.. Is it awful that I was happy with this? I don't know how it wasn't a whole lot more.

So I'm back to good and in much better health (although if someone would like to give me a nose replacement, that would be great or shares in Tempo)

I know that if I don't cop on now again than this blog will just become confession posts of an over eater, rather than my diary/ struggles to loose me wobbly bits.

I am aiming to be down 4lbs this Thurs to make up for my 2lb gain in the last 2 weeks.

Do you find it difficult to get back on the wagon after a week off plan/ being sick?

I'm feeling determined

Weight lost to date: 4.0lbs
Onwards and Downwards, the Slimming World way :)