Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!!

Hello my lovelies!!

How are you enjoying this weather? What's the betting it will vanish as soon as the kids break up for the holidays and we'll be back to the usual British "summer"?

I have spent most of the week here:

On my sun lounger by the "pool" - its been too hot to do anything and so the garden and housework has gone to pot while I lay in the shade trying not to melt.

I. Don't. Do. Heat.

A few years ago I went to Singapore with Mr G who was on business and I spent virtually the whole 10 days complaining about the heat. Mr G says I was like the female version of Karl Pilkington.

But I've managed to do a little crafting in the shade - I can't show you yet though as its for a swap.

Ridiculously I have also cast on a winter cardigan for myself, I figured if I didn't start now there's no way it would be finished in time!!

I searched the www high and low for the perfect cardigan - I'm very hot blooded and rarely wear a coat so I wanted something to wear instead. I had a picture of exactly what I wanted in my head, something empire line (since that flatters my ample curves) and long. So after days of searching I picked the closest pattern I could find - this one from from Etsy:

Since it takes 20 balls of wool this could have been a costly project but I managed to get some bargainous yarn - Patons Fusion from Kemps Wool Shop at 79p a ball!! I chose a blue/green mix and its working out in quite wide faded stripes (no pic yet!!)

Now to go off at a tangent....

A couple of weeks ago I had an x-ray as I have been having hip pain and the results show I have "moderate arthritis" in both hips. Of course the "treatment" for this is (once again - it's a doctors go to cure for everything a fatty has!!) to lose weight.

I'm trying. I've managed to lose 11lbs slowly. It's hard. I'm greedy and love food.

My weight does worry me. I am made to feel by society, the media and people around me that as a fat person I am a ticking time bomb.

But dare I say that it is a myth that if you are not losing weight then healthy eating/habits are not benefitting you.

The blog Dances With Fat has an excellent blog post that discusses a study that has shown that healthy habits (not smoking/eating 5 a day/moderate alcohol/exercising regularly) make healthy people REGARDLESS of the persons weight.

The study concludes "Healthy lifestyle habits are associated with a significant decrease in mortality regardless of baseline body mass index."

So, I am trying to focus on making healthy choices which will benefit me and if I lose weight than that is a bonus.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

I'm learning to draw, but that'll take a whole post of its own so I'll love you and leave you....

Hugs,

S x

 

 

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The Secret Of A Great Night In....

With the triple dip recession as it is staying in is definitely the new going out so I was delighted to be given £50 by Money Supermarket to have the ultimate night in.

After giving it a little thought we decided that the best way to have a good night in is with good food and good company and so it was arranged that we would have a dinner party with our oldest friend:

D and I met at school when we were 15. I was the new girl and she asked if I wanted to be her friend. After that we were inseparable and she was the one that approached Mr G and did the whole my-friend-fancies-you thing!!

D hosted the evening at her home as she has a little boy:

We had a wonderful meal of chicken goujons, followed by chilli with guacamole, nachos, refried beans and all the lovely Mexican trimmings and then D's wonderful triple chocolate brownie:

Of course it was all washed down by the odd cheeky cider:

Mr G demonstrating a balanced diet....

Of course there was plenty of free flowing laughter and we even got out some old photo albums!!

You don't have to spend a fortune to have a great night in:

• Invite your favourite people, even if you haven't seen them in a while
• Consider a theme night - Mexican; Chinese; Italian and choose food/drink accordingly
• Have a cocktail night - each guest brings ingredient and you spend the evening sampling new drinks!. Make sure to book a taxi and have food to soak it up!!
• Consider having a murder mystery dinner party - each person plays a character and you theme the food - they are fabulous fun!!
• Games nights in general are always fun, especially if you have a few little prizes

A lovely time was had by all and I thoroughly urge you to dust off your address book and reconnect with your old friends - it really is true what Baz Luhrmann says in The Sunscreen Song:

"Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you

should hold onto. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and

lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you

knew when you were young."

Hugs,

S x

 

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Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String - The Shabby Oak....

Hello all, I hope you're well and have enjoyed the sunny weekend?

These days when I fancy a little retail therapy I like to browse little independent shops and small boutiques - both when I'm shopping in bricks and mortar stores or online.

As such I am always delighted to find a new shop that sells beautiful items that make my heart go pitter-patter.

I was therefore delighted when The Shabby Oak offered to sponsor a post and sent me some goodies to review which came wrapped up in the best way:

What a gorgeous treat to receive in amongst the bills!!

The Shabby Oak is an independent family run business, selling a range of carefully selected, beautiful gifts, homewares and jewellery. As with my packages all orders are wrapped beautifully to make receiving them a real treat.

Inside my parcel were some really gorgeous treats, my favourite being this lovely Rabbit Jewellery Holder:

These Floral Triple Wall Hooks will look great in my sewing room - gotta love flowers AND birds!!:

One can never have too many photo frames (did you know that lots of photos on display is the sign of a happy home?) and this Antique Heart Frame is a classic:

And also included were a couple of pretty little butterfly clips:

I am delighted with the service and products from The Shabby Oak and will certainly be adding them to my favourites for when I feel the urge for a spot of retail therapy.

Hugs,

Sarah x

PS You can "like" The Shabby Oak on Facebook to keep up with all the news and offers....

 

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