Festivities & Frolics

Hi

How are you all doing?
Recovering from all the food and booze from last week? Ready to do it all again this weekend?
I am really looking forward to Friday, it is going to be manic but fun at the same time. I am cooking for 11 people on New Year's Day, and it is going to be a big 3 course meal. Hopefully David will give me a hand - he is normally quite good at doing that kind of thing.

So, was Santa good to you?
Like I said in my last post I was spoilt rotten, I was given a voucher for a personal trainer session which is great. Definitely going to use that one early in the new year to get me back into the swing of going to the gym. I think I might keep up the personal trainer thing, especially in the run up to the wedding - maybe one a week or every fortnight just to keep me motivated and lose as much weight as possible before the wedding. It all seems so close now. My little facebook countdown clock is telling me it is only 93 days until the wedding. It is all very real all of a sudden!
Talking of weddings can I just take a wee minute to say a massive CONGRATULATIONS to my brother Craig and his new fiancée Becky. They got engaged last night and I am so pleased for the both of them.

Have a very happy and healthy New Year and I will be back soon.

x

Merry Christmas

So, let me be the last one to wish you all a Merry Christmas. This entry was meant to be written on Christmas Eve but the best laid plans and all that so it is now here, on boxing day.
Did everyone have a good day yesterday?
Was Santa good to you all?
I was spoilt as usual, my hubby to be is arranging my wedding ring as my main Christmas present and I got a few nice little presents as well. We also got a load of cash which is great - means we can get a load of stuff for going away in only a few weeks now.

I am not going to rabbit on too much, just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

x

Finally!!!

Saturday was a fun filled day for me - well after 12 anyway when I finished work. I had a girlie night out with my friends where we all exchanged our Christmas gifts and indulged in too much wine.

Saturday afternoon though was amazing - I finally collected my wedding dress. After all the upheaval of the last couple of weeks when I thought my dress was missing then it turning up I finally got to go and try it on then take it away with me.
And after all my hassle of trying to lose weight so that I could get into it - I have a tiny amount to go until it fits. I was actually able to get it completely done up and it didn't look too terrible. In fact I felt like a princess in it and really didn't want to take it off. I was so glad it was here and I could see it and try it on as when I ordered it I hadn't even seen the dress in person - I ordered it from a photo on the designer's website. It is even nicer that in the photo as there is a lot of detail that can't be seen properly in the photo.
The dress is currently hanging from the door frame in our hallways as there is nowhere else that is tall enough to hang it from without the dress bag dragging on the floor and David has promised not to look at the dress.

Christmas is coming......

So, Christmas is only a couple of weeks away and I love it. I am one of those people that puts up the Christmas tree on the 1st of December and doesn't take it down until the middle of January, one that has her Christmas cards written in October and had already bought all of the Christmas presents. I have even started my Christmas food shopping. I went and ordered my turkey for Christmas Day and ordered the fish for New Year's Day and have ordered the Steak Pie for New Year's Day. When my mum and Robert went to Calais last month I even got the to get me some of the booze I am going to want for the festive period.

I love Christmas, I get so wrapped up in it. I am looking forward to having everyone round to the house and putting on a good dinner for everyone. I love watching the kids at Christmas opening up all their presents and just being hyper all day.

Can only imagine how much more I am going to love Christmas once David and I have our own family - I am going to be unbearable.

Wedding Dress: Tick

So, after my little panic the other day I decided to go into the shop this afternoon to find out more about the whereabouts of my wedding dress and to pay the final balance that was due on it.

I walked into the shop just as the owner was about to call me - the dress arrived this morning.
Panic over.
I am going to try it on and collect it next Saturday, then it is a waiting game until February when we start all the alterations before the main event.

I am well pleased it arrived. Thought I was going to have to tell everyone that my dress was lost in the post.

x

Wanted: one wedding dress

So, I posted a while back that I was expecting my wedding dress in the middle of November. Yeah well that has been and gone and still no sign of the dress. I have called the shop and they haven't heard everything from the manufacturer so we just have to wait. And wait. And wait. They have said that if it hasn't arrived by the end of January then they will call them to find out where it is.
Now this is my first time buying a wedding dress so I am sure that it is normal for the dresses to run slightly late but it slightly unnerving to think that my dress hasn't arrived and no-one is too concerned about it except me.

Will try not to worry to much until then - but just wish it would arrive without me having to chase it too much.

x

Been Hiding

So, I have been too ashamed to come on here for a while and update with what has been going on.
I dropped the diet for a while and went off the rails.

But things have changed again and I am back. I even went back to the gym this morning! Yeah this morning - not hiding there in the evenings but I faced it in the daylight, and it wasn't that bad. I almost enjoyed it. The only way I could have enjoyed it more was if I wasn't so unfit that I was almost sick at the end of my programme.

Got myself booked in for a programme review now - only got 4 months until the wedding and want to look as good as I can in the time that I have (only wish I had started 2 years ago when we got engaged).

x

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween guys.

Tonight the towns and cities are going to full of mini spooks, ghouls, monsters and witches all out trick or treating (although hopefully not too much tricking) or guising as it is known up our neck of the woods.

Tonight we are doing the unconventional thing of having a meal in the house to celebrate our flatmate having lived with us for a year now so all being well there shouldn't be too many knocks at the door.

On another note, last night I held my very first Body Shop at Home party and it was great. With tonight being Halloween I themed the game around Halloween and we had a giggle. I earned a nice little profit for the night and the hostess even managed to get some freebies. A good night was had by all.

P.S. Happy Birthday Nanna

x

Weight Loss Update - the first in a while

It has been a while since I wrote about the journey of my weight loss but a request has come in to update you with it so here goes.
I fell off the wagon for a few weeks and was gaining weight like mad. Then I got my act together and got back into going to the gym (although not that much this week) and started paying attention to what I was eating again. I have discovered a love for Muesli with yogurt so have even managed to make myself eat breakfast which is something I would never do.
I ended up well above my start weight again which was miserable but was the point I needed to reach to get my head in the right place to do it properly.

Last week was my first weigh in since I decided to get my head into gear and I lost 1.5lbs. Not huge but was good to see the weight coming off. Yesterday was my second weigh in and I lost 3.5lbs. I was so chuffed as this weight loss meant that I am back under my start weight again. Just in time for my wedding dress coming in the next couple of weeks.

Going to be good this week and the next couple of weeks as well and maybe I will be somewhere near my target by the start of the New Year.

x

Gym Behaviour

So we have been going to the gym for a while now and one of my favorite times to go is on a Sunday morning. There is only a few people there and the music isn't too loud (I get distracted by the music and can't be bothered when the music is too loud) so I can get in, get the programme done and get out within the hour.

However there are some strange people that go to the gym at that time of the morning. One of my friends has also discussed this on her blog but until the weekend I never really realised how bizarre they really are. I was doing the first stint of my programme on my treadmill on Sunday morning and although I was the only person on the treadmills (and there is about 20 of these) a guy had to go on the one right next to me.
Then I moved onto the bikes for my next exercise and someone else did the same thing. I am wearing my headphones so got no interest in speaking to them - why do they do it?!? If I want to use the rowing machines (there is only 2 of these down in the main part of the gym) and someone is on one of them I go upstairs so I don't have to impose on them - why do people think it is okay?
I can understand when the gym is busy - I am not that silly but when I am the only person using a piece of equipment and there is another 19 beside me do they have to use the one directly next to me?

Is is just me (and my friend) or does anyone else think it is just a bit weird?

x

I didn't forget about you, honestly ...........

It has been almost 2 weeks since I last posted anything, sorry about that. It isn't because I had nothing to say but in fact have had no time to say it.

So what has been happening over the last couple of weeks? Will probably be easier if I list everything, means I will remember everything I need to tell you about.

1. The gym is still going well, I have been going a few times a week, not as much as I would have liked but we are definitely still going.
2.Work is manic (but nothing much changed there). Been working crazy hours recently, like 4am - 8pm. Not much fun but got to pay for the wedding somehow.
3. Wedding plans are still going well, almost finished paying for the dress and the holiday. By the end of the year it will all be paid for. Just in time to start paying out for the documentation we need. Have decided to postpone our reception by a couple of week when we return - think it would be too much to travel back on the Wednesday and have the reception on the Saturday.
4. I have taken on a second job. I have started doing Body Shop at home parties to earn a few extra pounds.

Think that is it actually, it seems so much more when it has been going on but really cant think of anything else that has been going on.

Speak soon.

x

Gym Update.....

We are still going!!!!

The gym staff are starting to recognise us again and I am actually starting to enjoy it again. We went to the gym last night before dinner and managed to get through most of my programme before heading sown to the pool for a couple of lengths.

We have decided to go to the gym before dinner each night, we did try going after dinner but it was getting more and more difficult to get the motivation to go, especially when it was getting darker earlier.

Looking forward to going again tonight, even though it i going to be later than usual. Might just be for a swim but at least it is some form of exercise to try and get this weight off.

We Returned ....

So after 20 days of absence David and I finally made it back to the gym tonight, and my god did we feel it! We foolishly had dinner about an hour before we went so we were working out whilst nursing a stitch. Not that it made much of a difference to our time in the gym. We both noticed how badly our fitness had decreased.

What this has done though is made us realise that we can't stop going to the gym again. We have to keep working out, although I definitely feel I need it more than David does.

We have started again though and this time it will continue.

x

Day Trip

It has been ages since David and I actually did something with our day off but today was different. Since he passed his test on Thursday we decided to get him driving on the motorway so we took a little trip up to St Andrews for a day out. Whilst there we bought him his outfit for his work's Christmas night out.

This is the kilt he is going to wear with black socks, black shirt, silver cravat and a grey waistcoat. Think he will look super smart, just hope my outfit will look as good beside his. I am recycling an old outfit. Well I say old, I have wore it once since I bought it. Think I am going to adapt it slightly though so it will look different for those that have seen it before.

x

He Passed......

He did it, he passed his driving test.
He has just sent me a text message so he hasn't got home yet, which is probably a good thing as I am sitting here crying my eyes out.

What a sap, hey?

I feel ill.........

OMG! I feel sick in my stomach.
David is currently, as in right now, out sitting his driving test.

I never thought I was nervous for him, yesterday I was trying to keep him calm about it but when his driving instructor turned up this afternoon to collect him I started to feel sick and it hasn't gone away. I don't think it will until he returns and I know how he has done.

Will let you know as soon as I know.

x

and now the panic sets in........

I just called the bridal shop to finally get the measurements that my dress will be when it is delivered in a couple of months. Oh My God! I have so much weight and inches to go. I think this is the wake up call I have needed. I am gobsmacked it is so much. I always thought I could do it and there wasn't a major rush but after seeing these measurements in black and white (well purple and white - I used a purple pen) I am so motivated - I have to be.

For the dress to fit when it arrives I need to lose 1.5" off my bust, 5" off my waist and 3.5" off my hips. That is actually quite real now. If I want the dress to be a size 12 (all my holiday clothes are this size) then I have to lose 7.5" off my bust, 11" off my waist and 9.5" off my hips.

Think I am going to head to the gym twice a day for the next 5 months and I might just do it.

Wake up call received loud and clear!

weighty issues.....

Time for the update again and it isn't good I'm afraid, I gained 2lbs this week.
It just goes to show that if you want to lose weight you have to do exercise. This week we haven't been to the gym at all. What with work and everything this week has been manic and the times I could/should have gone to the gym I spent trying to relax in other ways instead.

I have learnt my lesson and am heading out to the gym tonight after my market research that I am doing. Got to go and discuss potatoes of all things. Should get home by about 8.30 tonight so still plenty of time to get to the gym for a session, the gym doesn't close until 11 so still time for a workout and a swim.

Promise to get the 2lbs off for next week.

x

P.S. just to worry/scare you. It is 14 weeks tomorrow until Christmas Day.
Enjoy.

Babysitting and Zoo Trip

Yesterday we were looking after our 3 nieces and as the weather was so good we decided to take them all to the zoo in Edinburgh. I had not been there for about 15 years and last time I was there I didn't like it as I didn't like seeing the animals in cages. Since then there has been a lot of conservation work done by the zoos and I now recognise them as being very important in maintaining the population of the world's most endangered species.

This was the highlight of the kids' day:



the penguin parade. We managed to get to get front row for this and the kids loved it.

I think even David and I enjoyed our day with the kids. Definitely something we want to repeat in the very near future.

x

Ooops......

..... forgot to mention that David and I aren't going to the gym tonight. We do have a legitimate excuse though, we are celebrating our 2 year anniversary of being engaged.

This is the last time we will celebrate our engagement anniversary as this time next year we will be married and will celebrate that anniversary instead.

x

Just weighed in.........

and it was good. I have lost 2.5lbs this week.
My god I love the gym and I never thought it would be me saying that sentence.

Clearly the results are coming in as the food front hasn't been all that good this week. To celebrate the end of David's take away ban we had a burger king on Sunday and we were out for dinner last Wednesday. Both meals involved puddings as well so it wasn't that great. Imagine what kind of results I could get next week with no take aways, as long as I stay away from the buffet on Friday night.

x

Update time ..........

Today was my first day back at the gym since Tuesday. Despite vowing to go everyday life has kind of got in the way and we haven't managed to get there as often as we had hoped but this is changing this week. I am not promising everyday but I am promising more than the 3 times we went last week.
When I was at the gym one day last week I set myself a mini target alongside the one that is to get the weight off in time for the wedding. My mini target is to run on the treadmill for 10 minutes at 8km/hr within the first 8 weeks of our membership. When I began last Sunday I could manage 1 minute at a time (yes, I really am that unfit) but today I actually managed 2 whole minutes before having to slow the treadmill down. I am trying to do this using the interval training technique so I ran for 2 minutes, walked for a minute, ran a minute, walked a minute, ran a minute etc etc etc for the first 10 minutes. After that I walked for 4 minutes then ran my last of the 15 minutes I was on the treadmill. So I walked for a total of 8 minutes and ran for 7 minutes. This is increasing and I am hoping that I will soon be able to increase my running intervals and decrease the walking ones until I am running for at least 10 minutes.

Also planned this week is to go an pay a bit more towards the holiday/wedding and hopefully more towards my wedding dress as well. That is coming sooner than expected so have to pay it off quicker than originally anticipated. When I am going to the shop to pay some more towards the dress I am going to get a note of the measurements I need to be so that my dress will fit me. Having it ordered it a bit smaller than I am at the minute I know that I need to reduce my measurements by quite a bit but don't actually know what these are meant to be. Will get the measurements then can keep a better eye on how things are going. Will add the measurements onto the weight loss meter at the side and let you know how things are developing (or should that be reducing) on a fortnightly basis.

Gym update

Since the last time I posted I haven't been back to the gym. This isn't because it has lost any of it's appeal but more that life has gotten in the way of getting there.

Wednesday night we headed out for dinner with David's parents. Due to a challenge David had with one of his friends we weren't able to eat out or have a take away for the whole month of August. That in itself isn't an issue and we really didn't miss the food but we missed the socialising aspect of it. Before David's parents went away that had the family round for a take away and some chat but we didn't go as we didn't want to sit there and watch the others eat food that we weren't going to have. They came back their holiday on Wednesday so we decided to all go out for a meal to catch up.

Last night I was babysitting my mum's dog. That shouldn't have stopped us going out to the gym for a couple of hours but the dog had been in the house all day on his own so he needed to be fed and walked loads to make up for it. I decided to feed him early instead of waiting until we got back from the gym.

Going tonight so have to put in treble the amount for the last couple of days that we have missed. Lots of running and lots of swimming in preparation for my programme getting made up tomorrow so I can whip my ass into shape.

x

I am alive

Well, it's been a couple of days (or maybe more) since I posted anything. Normally I would say that it has been work keeping me busy but this week it has been fitness driving me away from the computer.

David & I have rejoined the gym and have been every night (except tonight). We have been running loads on the treadmills and I have been swimming loads to try and shift the weight before the dress gets delivered in November. I have got 2.5 months to shift about 2.5 dress sizes but in fact I have 7 months to shift about 4.5 dress sizes. I have bought all my holiday clothes considerably smaller than what I am at the minute as my motivation for getting down to the size I want to be lying on the beach or beside the pool.

Hopefully once I get into the swing of things at the gym I will be posting loads of success stories of getting the dress sizes off one at a time.

x

All work and no play......

is making Mhairi a dull girl.

I sat today and counted how long it has been since my last official day off work. It has been 37 days!!!!! Even then it was only 1 day off and before that it was about another 40 days. I need to get a life. I can't remember the last time that David and I went out and did something just the 2 of us, apart from exercising that is. Even that though has been a bit neglected as I have been working loads then when I wasn't working I was tired so not really wanted to go out and expel any more energy. Not looking good for the scales tomorrow.

What I have been looking into more and more is the different beauty treatments I fancy getting done before we go away for the wedding and also whilst we are away in the resort's spa. I am looking into eyelash extensions. A while ago I posted about getting false eyelashes to wear on my wedding day to make my lashes look fuller. I have been trying to use false lashes for a while now and I just cant get to grips with them. I can only do one eye, and even then it falls off after about 30 minutes. Not a good look for the wedding photos. When I was getting my eyebrows threaded at the weekend I was given a pamphlet for the other treatments that the spa do and one is the eyelash extensions. I was asking and they have assured me that it will add only a bit of length as my lashes are really long as it is but it will also add some volume to my lashes as well. I am going to try it out over Christmas and if the effect is good then I will have it done again for the wedding. With getting my eyelashes tinted and permed as well all I will need on my big day is a slick of clear mascara and that's it, done and dusted (well with a few other additions of course).

x

Eyebrow update......

The threading yesterday was a complete success. It was more uncomfortable than I was expecting but very quickly my skin recovered much quicker than it normally did when I was getting waxed. Even the shape of my eyebrows is much better than I normally get with either waxing or tweezing.

Yesterday after my trip to get threaded David managed to convince me to head out for a bit of a walk. We headed out to the grounds of a local, disused hospital for a bit of a dander around. It was a bit strange walking around the grounds of a hospital that opened in 1906, it was almost like a little village with roads and streets linking the different departments as bits had been added as and when they were needed as the hospital grew. The place only shut down in 2006 but to look at it you would think it had been empty since the 1950s. The place looks like it was raided in the middle of the night and everyone taken from their homes, there is stuff just abandoned in the rooms like wheelchairs etc.

After walking round the hospital grounds for about 40ish minutes we headed off to walk up Dechmont Law which is a bit of a hill in our little town. We walked up most of it, not venturing past the end of the tarmaced path to the top but walked about 80% of it, then back down as well.
So yesterday was a bit active for all concerned and I slept well last night.

Hopefully I will get a good result on the scales come Wednesday.

x

The eyes are the windows to the soul.........

....... and today I am getting them framed properly.

Sorry for the cheesy title but it is written across the appointment card that I have for getting my eyebrows re-shaped.

This isn't a surgical procedure but in fact just a threading appointment that I have for today.
I am normally a waxing girl, getting my eyebrows waxed every couple of weeks but since my friend gave up her beauty therapy job a few months ago now I have been struggling to find anyone else I like to do them so they have been left to grow wild. I did try plucking them myself following the shape that had been left by the waxing but that resulted in one starting too far across my face compared to the other so decided to just leave them alone after that. I currently have have 2 hairy caterpillars crawling across the top of my face but all this is going to change at 1pm today.

Today I go for my first ever threading appointment and I am looking forward to it. I have been looking into threading for a while now as I am not a fan of the plucked chicken look that waxing gives you, especially with how red I go when I get waxed. Whilst I was in Debenhams buying my wedding tiara on Wednesday night I spotted a brow bar (similar to a nail bar but for a different part of your anatomy) and saw that they did threading. I couldn't get it done then so have booked my appointment for when I finish work today.

Finally the wild beasts will be tamed.

And there is another thing crossed off the list - the wedding tiara is now safely stored in the suitcase until the wedding party departs.

Whoop Whoop!!

x

Weigh In Update

This week hasn't been all that good. Exercise hasn't been done as much as planned and food was ignored over the weekend. This week though I have paid the price. I put on half a pound and honestly I feel like it was more. I was out running last night and actually struggled more than usual with my knees and stamina and I am sure it is down to the weight gain.

This week I am aiming to do a lot more exercise and less eating - I think we all know that is how we lose weight. There is no mad science to it.

x

Feeling better now

I am feeling better after my little whinge yesterday, sorry about that.

Today has been a good day for me, I haven't been called out for work but still getting paid for today. Tonight we have planned to head out for a run before the big weigh in tomorrow. Food has actually been quite good this week as well.
Hopefully this means I should get a fair result on the scales tomorrow. Will keep you posted.

x

I want my wedding

Recently on facebook I have noticed that a lot of my friends and family members have been involved in or attended weddings recently and looking at the photos has made me realise how much I want my wedding to be here, now. We are nowhere near prepared and I know that the run up is going to go so fast once we get into the final stages but I just wish it was all happening now instead of in 7 months.

Think I need to get into other things to get my mind off the wedding, lets get more focused on the exercise and weight loss.

x

Weigh In, Weigh In, Weigh In

Whoop Whoop, today was the big weigh in since the exercise began and my word it has worked. I lost 3lbs this week and for the first time since February I am back under my starting weight so now I really am losing weight.

Looks like exercise is the key (yes Terry I know you have been telling me but I needed to see the results for myself) so I have been back out tonight and am planning to head out most nights this week.

Got a big smile on my face today, I feel good.

x

Weekend chit-chat

Friday night was a great success. My cooking skills were fantastic even if I do say so myself. I cooked dinner for 5 or us for David's birthday and everything went really smoothly. Even the unexpected arrival of David's brother in law and his 3 nieces didn't hamper the process too much and I was still able to juggle my timings and get everything out at the same time.

I should at this little pause point out that all I cooked was lamb shanks, mashed potatoes, home made roast potatoes, brussel sprouts and green beans so nothing was very taxing.

David had a good night and we all got a little merry on the alcohol with David's mum and me getting through 3 bottles of wine between the two of us.

After consuming that, the food, a 1/6th share of a cheesecake as well as a 1/6th share of birthday cake I really need to get back out and exercising. With working today until 11pm I don't think there will be any exercise from me but tomorrow night I will get back out and go for a run again with David. We both need to work off the meal and booze from Friday night.

x

Happy Birthday David

Just a little post as I am frantically running round trying to clean and tidy the house as well as cooking the dinner for our dinner party tonight. As the title of the post says it is David's 27th birthday today, happy birthday babe.

I am definitely getting fit today as I am up and down the stairs hoovering and dusting and polishing and scrubbing the bathrooms.

Better get back to it, Have a good day.

x

P.S. Keep an eye out at 12.34 pm (and 56 seconds) as for the only time in this millennium the date and time will be 12:34:56 7/8/9.

Weekly weigh in and fitness update

This week hasn't been that great on the old weigh in front. I didn't lose any weight but at the same time I didn't gain any either.

Exercise this week has been much better. Sunday was spent running around where I was working. Monday I didn't do anything and last night I just went for a little jog around the block but tonight I made up for the last 2 nights. David and I went round the local country park. We were out for about an hour and it was constantly either walking or jogging with a mini assault course thrown in the middle for good measure.

Going out again tomorrow, probably to the same place so hopefully we can eventually get to the point when we can jog round it completely.

x

Still Motivated

Well it has been a couple of days since I last posted about my fitness regime beginning - and I can glad to say that I am still motivated and still trying to increase the amount of times I am getting out and about.

Didn't get much done yesterday as I was working in the morning then went back into Edinburgh in the afternoon to help with my grandad's return from his holiday.
This morning I have been working but that hasn't stopped me. I am doing my security job today but have remember to bring my trainers with me so have been jogging around the loading bay every hour or so. I am not managing very much at the minute but it is better than just sitting her watching the TV like I normally do. I keep going out and trying to get that bit further than I did last time and so far so good.

x

Fitness Begins

I have been thinking for ages about starting to get outside and do something about my fitness which would directly impact on my weight loss goals. I am so aware that my wedding dress is getting delivered in a few short moths and at present it is still too small for me.

Last night we had a little bit of a break through. Normally where ever we go we take the car - we really are that lazy. But last night we decided to walk down to the sorting office with a letter we had to post. We were only out for about half an hour but it was challenging - well for me anyway. We did a little bit of jogging along the way as well just to try and get a bit more physical.

We are heading out again tonight, and the aim is to increase it a bit more every night.

x

The results are in.....

So today I went into Edinburgh for the slimming class and got a nice but not too unexpected surprise to find I had managed to lose another 2.5lbs in the last 2 weeks. I managed to lose the weight that I gained a couple of weeks ago so I am happy. Now it is back to the battle to get the weight to keep going down.

Thankfully things are looking like they are starting to go in the right direction.

x

Weight Update

Tomorrow is the big weigh in. It has been a couple of weeks since I got weighed what with the change in working conditions last week. I am supposed to get weighed every Wednesday morning but curiosity got the better of me tonight and I jumped on the scales at the class that I was covering tonight. I didn't really pay much attention to the numbers but did notice that I have lost some weight in the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow I will report on how much weight I have lost for definite.

Been A While...

I haven't forgot about the blog, honestly. I have been doing a different job this week and I don't like it. Normally I courier parcels around as and when I am required but this week I have been asked to cover for the office manager as he is on holiday so I have been in the office dealing with engineers and trying to organise couriers to deliver the packages when they have been requested. Prior to doing this I have been thinking about changing jobs and getting steady hours possibly in an office but definitely not after this week. I have only done 3 days and although nothing has gone wrong I have been reminded what it is about working in an office I don't like. It is being confined - I got bored so easily that to sit and look at the same 4 walls constantly drives me mad. At least with the job I have my wallpaper constantly changes so it is always different.

Roll on Monday when I get back to normal.

x

Just when it looks like things are getting better.....

..... we get a call this afternoon to say that our reception venue has flooded overnight last night so they are not confirming any bookings at the minute.

Hopefully though once they have spoken to the insurance company things will get repaired quickly. We aren't needing the venue until April next year so for that we are in not to much of a hurry but it is still a bit of a pain. Just when we think we have everything booked something goes wrong.

Think we will start looking for another venue, just in case this doesn't get fixed in time.

x

I Give Up................

..............but not really.

I went to Slimming World this morning and have somehow managed to gain weight, a whole 2.5lbs. Even now, 10 hours on, I can't work out how (unless hormones has something to do with it). My food hasn't been that bad although there hasn't been any exercise but there never normally is.
Think I really need to get my finger out, like the last post says I now know when my wedding dress is being delivered.

x

Dress Delivery Date Confirmed

OMG, now I need to panic. I just got a call back from the wedding dress shop to confirm when my dress is expected to be delivered to the shop. It is expected in to the shop in Mid-November! Not February as originally expected.

Now I really need to get the weight off, no mucking about anymore.

x

Wedding Dress Delivery Date

Being a couple of weeks since I ordered my wedding dress it is now time to call and find out when it is going to be delivered into the shop. I am a bit scared about this though. there is no reasonable reason for this but I just keep putting it off.

I love the dress and can't wait to own it and wear it but I think I am bowing down to the weight loss pressure of slimming into the dress in time. I have been totally realistic about getting into the dress - it is only 2 dress sizes in 8 months (considering I am buying all my holiday clothes 4 sizes smaller) which is totally achievable.

Right. Biting the bullet now.

Oh no, it's ringing.

x

David's Purchases

So, we are back from the shops and we both got some nice new clothes. David got some cropped trousers and some linen full length combat trousers. I got a couple of pairs of shorts as well. When we got home David did a bit of a fashion show and thankfully everything fitted (he isn't that keen on trying stuff on in shops) but while he was trying on his clothes he came across my shorts in the same bag. I am unable to try on my clothes at the minute as I am buying clothes that are all currently too small for me as my main motivation for getting the weight off before we go away (if the weight doesn't come off I have no clothes to go away in).
Anyway David held them up against him and I asked him to put them on (just to see if how they would look) and he did. Whilst I was laughing my head off I managed to capture this:

Yes, this is him in my little shorts. Being the typical British man though he wouldn't take his socks off - I did however manage to persuade him to roll them down a bit. He doesn't know it yet but I am going to go through his case and make sure he doesn't have any socks packed away so he can't wear them (well except the ones for his kilt I suppose).

Time to start shopping........

Now that all the documantation has finally been sorted out my attention has turned back to the shopping involved in going away. I have bought quite a bit for myself but poor David has been a bit neglected in the new clothes area.

During the week I asked if there was anything he really wanted for going away, as per usual he said no so I started to suggest things like cropped trousers, swimming shorts, t-shirts and all then he started to remember more stuff he wanted. So once he gets back from his hill walk this morning we are heading up to the town centre to buy him some new clothes.

Think I might pick up a few bargains as well.

Wish me luck - might strangle him if he can't make up his mind.

Bubble all inflated again......

Yesterday I got the call I had been waiting for since Saturday and the eventful trip to the travel agents. The lovely girl from the shop called to say that there was new documentation in the store for me to collect. When I got there I checked everything over with a fine tooth comb and finally everything is booked correctly. Both me and the girl from the travel agents checked every last comma and space on all of the sheets just to make sure that absolutely everything was worded correctly and finally I can say I am happy and everything is now booked okay.

Now just to pay for it all.

x

Weight Loss Update

So, today being Wednesday it is time to update you all on the weight loss progress. Went along to Slimming world and wasn't all that hopeful of a weight loss. I had been to a BBQ on Saturday night which was great and I ate like a pig. Also I had been down to Newcastle on a deliver on Tuesday so my lunch was a grab and go from the local supermarket. So anyway go to Slimming World and get on the scales and lost 1.5lbs. For the week I had (food wise) that is a fantastic weight loss and I am really pleased with it.

I keep thinking about the wedding dress and how I have ordered it in a smaller size so I need to get the weight off. There is no room for wanting the weight off now - it needs to come off and I am so ready for it to happen now.

x

And then the bubble burst.....

So, over the past few days I have been blogging about how good things seem to be going at the minute with the wedding plans and the weight and everything. Well yesterday put a stop to that.

I got a call yesterday morning from the travel agent to say that all the documentation about the wedding booking had been received. As soon as I finished work I went up to the travel agents and collected it all. I was told to take it away and have a read through. Typically for me though I barely got out the shop before taring open the envelope and started reading. So glad I did. The wedding department of the particular travel agent is still spelling David's surname wrong - even though they have been told twice by me and then twice by the travel agent themselves. The holiday booking spelling is correct and they are meant to import the details from that so can't understand how they are getting that wrong.
Also they haven't booked us a wedding! No instead we got confirmation of our vow renewal. We are not married yet never mind at the point of renewing our vows. The girl in the shop was fantastic, she got straight onto the phone and called the wedding department who assured us it was a typo but not believing them she called the wedding coordinator in the Dominican Republic to ask what they had booked, and it was a renewal of vows. Now though it looks like it is getting sorted and we should have our new confirmation through at some point this week.

These people do this kind of booking all the time so how can they get it so wrong.

x

Well that was a bit different.......

So, yesterday, what happened there then?
I was just enjoying the sunshine and heat, being a good housewife and getting all the washing done (including the bedding) and hung out to dry and what happened - it rained. Not just rain but horrible big wet rain. I know it can't truly be related but a few people I know have just come back from holiday and clearly their joy at being back in the UK reflected in the weather yesterday.

When I got up this morning though the sun was shining and everything was right in the world again. Tonight's plans - BBQ at Laura's. Get the coals fired up and I have dibs on the first burger.

Have a good weekend.

x

P.S. Happy American Independence Day to everyone who is celebrating today.

Shopping and Packing........

In the past few weeks I have been shopping for the honeymoon trip.
I posted about the black and white dress and wedges that I bought but since then I have been unstoppable - ask David. I have bought another dress (black, strapless maxi dress with little bit of beading around the neckline) and swimwear (blue and white). Also bought some new flip flops (havianas). Also waiting on a delivery of some new swimwear that I ordered last night.

Also got my bags out and been packing stuff away as and when it is being delivered. Some people may think I am nuts but it saves putting it away only to dig it out next year. The spare room looks like we are departing next week, never mind in 8 months.

x

People think they know me........

.......and then I shock them.

For the people that I want to show my wedding dress to I have first been asking them what style of dress they think I have ordered. So far all but 1 of them has thought I would go for a big meringue thing (like the skirt that Jordan had). One person has thought that I would go for the style of dress I have gone for but it has totally surprised me just how many people thought I would go for the meringue dress. When have I ever said I wanted a meringue?!?

x

Things are still going good.........

Things are still going good for me. Today I went to slimming world and found out I had lost another 1.5lbs. Things look to be finally working out. I have finally worked out a simple enough eating plan that should be easy enough to follow but also varied enough to not get bored and stray off it.

Got to fit into the wedding dress- did I mention I have ordered it a couple of sizes smaller then I am at the minute? Yeah decided to do this as a solid incentive for getting the weight off.

They Say Things Come in 3s.......

So, things come in 3s, be it good or bad and for once the last 3 have been all good things.

Firstly we managed to get David's kilt at a fantastic price. We do have to replace the shirt and sporran but it is still going to be so cheap in comparison to what we thought it was going to be.
Secondly I ordered my wedding dress - and managed to get the dress I wanted, despite being told all those weeks ago that it had been discontinued.
Thirdly, today we were given confirmation of our wedding date - and it is the date that we asked for. So we are getting married on the 31st of March 2010.

Hopefully this is the start of things to come. Could do with some nice things happening for a little while.

My dress - done

Just back from the shop and that's it, decision made and I have ordered my wedding dress. I have gone for the more sensible choice which is the light weight chiffon dress. Thankfully though everyone that came along (there was 6 of us) actually preferred this dress so I was quite pleased.

I have set myself a bit of a target as well. I have ordered my dress in a couple of sizes smaller than I am at the minute. This is for 2 reasons - one because obviously it makes me slim down before the wedding. The second is purely because I am tight. If I had ordered the dress in the size I am at the minute then I would have had to pay 10% extra so by ordering the slightly smaller size I actually get a discount. I have been sensible though and realistic about how much weight I can lose before the wedding - I only need to lose 4 inches around my tummy to fit into the dress so that should be achievable in 9 months.

David & I are heading out for a walk now to start the weight loss battle. Finally something proper to work towards - just the wedding wasn't obviously enough.

x

Dress Shopping Today

Just about 1 hour to go before I buy my wedding dress.

I am still undecided about which of the two dresses I am going to choose. I am leaning more towards one dress than the other - but the one I am moving away from is the dream, princess dress that if I was getting married here would be picked in a heartbeat. However I do need to be slightly practical about the dress as I have to transport it on a plane as my hand luggage.

Will let you know what happens when I get back from shopping.

x

Bridal Shopping Tomorrow

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to spend the biggest sum of money on one item of clothing that I have ever spent in my life.
I am going to order my wedding dress.

How scared am I?!?

I still haven't fully decided on which dress I am going to order either.
I am currently swaying between 2 dresses - and they couldn't be more different.
Thankfully though the dress shop has them both so I am going to try them both on again tomorrow and with my small panel of experts (there a total of 6 of us going tomorrow) I will decide what one to order. I am also taking my shoes and my borrowed veil with me to get a good idea of what it is going to look like.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

x

R.I.P Michael Jackson

Just wanted to write a short blog entry to acknowledge the passing of Michael Jackson. It is a shame that he has passed at such a young age. There is no doubting the talent of the man and his influence in the music industry over the past 20+ years.

x

Lets not leave it too long

Today I was at a funeral and it got me thinking about how often we meet up with people - sometimes it is as frequently as wedding, funerals and other family events but that is it.

I have decided to start keeping up with people more frequently and definitely catching up on the sooner rather than later philosophy.

x

slightly calmer now, but still not happy

so, last week wasn't a great week for me on the scales and if I am honest then there hasn't really been a great week for me for a long long long time. This week though I thought all of that was about to change. I posted a picture of the massive fruit salad I made on Friday night, well all that was gone by lunch time on Monday (thankfully as I was starting to retch at the sight of fruit salad). This week was meant to be a good week on the scales. I had been so careful with portion control as well as what I was actually eating so what happened when I jumped onto the scales this morning. Nothing. Literally nothing, well not literally nothing - I am not that light yet but what I mean is that it laughs at me and says "You haven't lost anything. You haven't tried this week. Ha Ha Ha".

I wasn't happy. Still not happy. Not quite sure what to do now. Followed the diet to the letter and still don't lose any weight. Have been told to follow it for another week and see what happens next week - I tell you now though, there better be a good weight loss or there will be murder.

x

David's Kilt - Done

So yesterday David's mum and dad decided to have a day out up in St. Andrews. When they were there they saw a kilt shop offering the kilt (with a choice of 6 different tartans), belt, sporran, Jacobean shirt and the socks for £100. David has been wanting a purple tartan to go with my choice of shoes. Although my dress is white I am wearing purple shoes. We have only found purple tartans in the full kilt but we have wanted the lightweight version as it is easier to transport and will be cooler to wear when we are out in the heat of the Dominican Republic.

After speaking to David we decided to get his mum and dad to get us the kilt so we waited last night for them to bring it home for us so David could try it on. I wish I had remembered to take a photo of it when he was wearing it as it looked so smart but there will be loads of photos when he is wearing it on the big day. Here is a photo of the kilt hanging up - as you can see it really doesn't look any different to a "normal" kilt but it cost over £300 cheaper. I think that it was even cheaper than what it would have cost to hire a kilt for the time we need it.


x

Prevention is better than Cure....

So, as the title suggests I am trying to prevent myself from putting on more weight and in fact I am actually trying to speed up the weight loss.
So I made this:
Just a little fruit salad.
There is everything in it. We have some strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apricots, blueberries, kiwi, plums and pineapple. This is my breakfast and lunch for the next couple of days. Having it in the fridge means that whenever I start to feel peckish then I can snack on this instead of the usual junk that I would normally go for.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Auntie June, have a good day.

x

The Chosen One......

A few weeks ago I was reading on of my favourite blogs

http://www.hey-dollface.com

where there was an advert for people to test the new products from TRESemmé. It's for the new 24 hour body range. I had to email of my name and address and that was it.
I sent of my details and didn't think more about it, the advert said it was on a first come, first serve basis so didn't hold out much hope.

Yesterday there was a knock at the door - a nice postman with a big parcel for me. It was the samples. Well I say samples - they were 3 full size products.

I haven't started using them yet but I am looking forward to it. I have quite thick hair but it is quite flat so it will be good to see if there is a product out there (well in the future anyway) that will help with the styling of my hair and stop me having to tie it up all the time.

Will keep you posted as to how they go.

Wedding Dress Update

Just a little blog entry today - still trying to recover from yesterday's mammoth journey where I drove to Oxford and back for a delivery.

I have been looking at the wedding dresses online in the run up to actually ordering my dress next week. I still think fondly of the dress that I tried on when I went for my first every shopping trip but couldn't order as it was about to be discontinued at the end of that week - or so I thought.

Today I went back into the dress shop to ask if it was definitely the case that the dress had been discontinued as it is still showing on the website. They happily called the designer who said

"no, it hasn't been discontinued".

OMG, talk about elation.
Although I had picked another dress - and totally fell in love with it - it just wasn't any comparison to this dress. So decision made. Roll on next week when I can order it.

And More Shopping....

So this morning me and David went into Edinburgh to do a spot of DIY for my grandad. Whilst waiting for B&Q to open we decided to go into Tesco to kill some time.
They have some really nice holiday clothes in at the minute and I really liked a sundress they have at the minute. I had been looking at it for a couple of weeks now so decided to show it to David to see what he thought.
He told me to buy it but I didn't know what size to buy as I am trying to lose weight. He told me to pick a size that is realistic to get to, even without too much effort and get the dress in that size - to act as inspiration for the weight loss. Here it is:









Also I bought a pair of shoes to match. I have problems wearing heels - after a couple of hours my feet really start to hurt and I need to change into flats. However I can wear wedges, even really high ones all day long. These were only £8 so grabbed them whilst David was offering.









David has put a ban on me wearing these shoes though - unless I am wearing the dress with them so I better get a move on with the weight loss.

Still Holiday Shopping

It is 40 weeks on Tuesday until we go away - yeah that is 283 days until we depart for the Dominican Republic and I can't seem to stop myself from buying "essentials" for the holiday.

Yesterday I went out to the local shopping centre and bought all out suntan lotion. Admittedly it was all on offer so instead of paying £13 a bottle I got it on a buy on get one free offer so it did save us some money but even still. Don't think David was too impressed to begin with, until he remembered that there isn't another summer before we go that we can take advantage of the offers that are on. So as well as getting all the sun cream I also got all our toiletries. We have been advised by different websites to take everything you need as the resorts don't stock these items, nor do the supermarkets - you have to go to special shops to buy them. I bought all the miniatures so that we can ditch them once they have been used without bringing back half empty bottles with us.

Just a pity I cant be bothered to start buying some of the clothes I will need. Admittedly this is because I don't know what size I will be by then - I have a realistic idea of what size I could get down to by then but don't want to buy anything yet, just in case I either don't do it or exceed my expectations and lose more weight (yeah right).

Going to go back into the centre today - forgot to buy the after sun that was also on offer. Might have a look at the clothes as well, there are some good offers on just now.

x

Wedding Purchases

A few months ago I was doing a delivery for one of my customers to a company that cuts pieces of metal and quartz and stuff with water jets. I asked about getting some initials done for the top of our wedding cake as we had been quoted £200 from a wedding cake shop to have them personalised. I was told I could get them done for about £40 so I ordered them.

For weeks and weeks and weeks I have been going out to Hillington (other side of Glasgow) to collect them only to find that they haven't been made yet (I told them that I wasn't getting married until next August so there was no rush).

Typically though that when my mum was out there for one of her deliveries she asked about my initials - and they were ready. She collected them for me.

Here they are:



The spikes at the bottom are going to go into the cake so that the letters stand up from the cake.

Update Again

Went to Slimming World this morning and have lost another pound.
It is coming off slowly which isn't ideal but at least it is still coming off.
I did a long trip up to Inverness yesterday and set up so early that I didn't have a chance to make anything to eat before I left so I ended up eating rubbish from a service station before I left Inverness to come home again as I was starving. I am sure had I had packed something proper to at then I would have lost more than 1 pound but I cant look back now - just have to focus on this next week and see what I can get at the end of it.

x

Still Going Strong

So, the other day I posted about how I was going to focus on maintaining the weight loss by reducing my calorie intake (sensibly though) and trying to get a bit more active.
Yesterday me and David were meant to be going up the Pentland Hills (just outside Edinburgh) for a walk but a trip to B&Q and a visit to his parents stopped that from happening, however the diet is still going well. I am well within my limit of 1500 calories (well maybe except yesterday as we got a takeaway for David's mums birthday) and it is going really well. I am eating so much fresh fruit and veg, as well as proper home cooked meals and it is surprising how much you can still eat.

1 week done - hopefully more to go.
Roll on Wednesday to see what the weight loss is.
Will get more active too - promise.

x

Update time again...

So, slimming World this morning.
Went in, jumped on the scales and lost half a pound.
To be honest wasn't really expecting it as I have only been watching what I have been eating since Monday. Hopefully this is a reflection of my careful choices and there should be a big weight loss next week - and for a few to come before I start to slow down again.

Go Me!

x

Getting fired up again - got a new eating plan and this one is simple

How amazing has the weather been this week? I even managed to get myself a bit of colour whist working at the weekend.

Also we have been getting more active this weekend. David ordered some boxing gloves and focus mits off the Internet last week and they arrived yesterday. I think I lasted about 5 minutes before collapsing in a heap. We also got a skipping rope so hopefully we will get active and then the weight should start to drop off. We are also back on the healthy eating bandwagon. We decided to ditch the non-carb diet and the high fat diet and all the other silly stuff that people try to do. Instead we have opted for calorie counting and I have restricted the number of calories I am taking in. Instead of the usual 2000 I am on 1500 calories. I have been reading loads recently about what is a realistic, healthy amount of calories to eat and still lose weight. Also (although it is sad) I watched the documentary that Clare from the pop band Steps did about how she lost her weight for her wedding. In 6 months she managed to get from a size 16 to a size 10 - her target was to wear a size 12 wedding dress. She did it through careful diet and exercising 3 times a week - totally realistic and achievable.

I started yesterday so there may not be any time to show a result on the scales tomorrow at Slimming world but hopefully by next week there will be a big difference in my weight. The aim is to begin by losing 3 pounds a week then aiming for a stable 2 pounds off a week.

Hopefully by the time the dress arrives from the designer in January/February time I can be a fair bit smaller than I am just now.

x

Bleugh ....... my rating for the week.

Well, so much for me doing better this week with the blog entries then hey - but it has been a bit of a manic week.

Firstly lets get the bad news out of the way - Slimming World was not a good experience this week. Not that I could have expected it to be really after having a birthweek instead of just a birthday when it came to the food this week. So no surprises that I gained 3lbs. Gutted though. Haven't really got back into it this week - was really good on Wednesday until I had to go up to Aberdeen for a delivery and didn't take any food with me. As I get weighed on a Wednesday morning I don't like to eat until then so hadn't had anything to eat until I reached Dundee on my way back home. With over an hour to go until I got home the hunger pangs took over I grabbed some food from the garage when I fueled up - and it hasn't stopped since then. Last night for instance David went out for his works Christmas night out so it was the perfect opportunity to eat healthy - I was only cooking for myself after all so what did I do - ordered an Indian Takeaway!
When will I learn.

Hope fully get back into it today - going food shopping when I finish work so will get lots of nice healthy foods in.

x

Weekly Roudup

OMG! Cant believe it has been so long since my last post - sorry about that.
This week has been pretty hectic so sit back, relax and get ready for the long story.

Firstly, Slimming World update. I wen to class on Wednesday and jumped on the scales (well not really but you get the idea)and I had lost another pound. It's not a great weight loss but it is a loss. I didn't do much exercise at all last week so it was purely the diet that got the weight off this week.

Wednesday was also a special day for me. It was my birthday. So as well as feeling good about my weight loss I was also looking forward to having a good day. I got so great pressies as well. David got me a beautiful leather jewellery box. It is the style of a travel case so it has a handle on the top and inside there is a travel box for going away. Have put my wedding jewellery in it for when we pack up to go away next March.

Also this week we have all paid off our deposits for the holiday/wedding/honeymoon. Now comes the important part of paying off the rest of the holiday but so far so good.

After discussing it with David this week as well we have decided to put the deposit down on my wedding dress next week. I am looking forward to actually going and signing on the dotted line and securing the dress as mine. I took my friends along last week (as per previous posts) and we have decided - although I decided on it before - that it is definitely the dress for me. I do have to go for another shopping style trip though with my wedding shoes to decide on the length of wedding dress to order. They come in 2 different lengths and with me being short I might be able to order the shorter length and therefore not need any alterations required on the skirt. Should hopefully be doing that next week though so will keep you posted.

Enjoy your week.

x

Birthday pressies - when it isn't my birthday

It is my birthday next week.

So on Wednesday I was shocked when a parcel was delivered to my house. It was clearly something that had been ordered off the internet but I hadn't ordered anything. I open it - it has my name on it said nothing indicating what it is for and there are these cool little Japanese figures in it. Still a little confused as I haven't ordered them I eventually find a phone number in amongst the packaging from the supplier who I call to find out who it is from.
It turns out it is a birthday pressie from one of my friends - really nice and cool, I now know who it is from.

Yesterday I was getting back from work late so had to get David to walk from work to the house. On the way home he stopped at the town centre and bought my birthday present. No surprise - but beautiful - it was the jewellery box I had picked out a couple of weeks ago. It is a really dark brown leather one like a travel case with the handle on the top. It also has a travel box for going away on holiday - I thought that would be handy for transporting all the jewellery I want to take away for the wedding. It is lovely - I really do love it but thought he might keep it until my birthday next week. So, this morning - before I came into work I sorted out the travel case with all my wedding jewellery (well except the wedding rings as we haven't bought them yet).

Is it me or do you agree that birthday pressies should only be given on the day - even if you know what they are?

x

The dress has been seen now.

So, yesterday I took my friends along to see my dress.
I was quite apprehensive about it as I was worried that they wouldn't like it, or they would think it wasn't suitable for my body shape but I needn't have worried.

They all started blubbing the minute I came out of the changing rooms so I took that as a good sign.

They kept saying that it was beautiful, and to be honest even after I took it off I couldn't stop looking at it.

Definitely the right dress I think.

On another note I went to Slimming World yesterday morning and lost some more weight.
It was only another half pound, but after the week I have had it was great to have lost. Obviously I wanted more - I have a mini target in my mind for my birthday next week and at the minute I am not going to make it.
As long as I keep losing though I will get there in the end. I have adjusted my weight loss target for the wedding, it makes it so much more achievable. Obviously if I beat it (which is possible if I can stay focused for the entire time) then I will be so so so happy but if not then as long as I get the target then I will have the biggest smile on my face on my wedding day.

x

A deviation from the norm....

So, partly down to my boring week and partly cause I really want to tell you about these products I thought I would blog today about these new products that I have come across.

A few weeks ago I held a Virgin Vie party in my house. A girl I used to go to school with has started doing the parties and I agreed to be one of her first parties.
I am so bad with skincare and all that kind of stuff - my family has always had great skin without anyone even moisturising on a daily basis so I never really paid my skin much attention. I used to just drag a face wipe over my face when I remembered to try and clear anything that might be on there. I would also occasionally do a face mask although that was more for pampering and relaxing rather then to actually benefit my skin.

So back from that tangent, I was hosting the party and admitted to never cleansing and toning - well I never realised so many people do it. I thought everyone was like me and thought they should do it but didn't.
Anyways I was persuaded to buy some of the cleanser and toner as well as the moisturiser that I was buying anyway.

OMG - I thought my skin was good before but it is so much better now. I had some little problem areas, in the usual places on my nose, chin etc. Now though they are all gone. I am pretty pleased with myself for breaking the lazy habits I had before - my face and skin are looking so much better now and hopefully this means that everything is going to be okay for the wedding and I will be glowing for then.

x

Time to show the girlies......

I am taking my friends to see my wedding dress on Wednesday afternoon. I didn't take them to the initial search session because I was scared that I wouldn't fit into any of the dresses and them they would have seen me for how big I actually am.

Being the biggest girl out of my group of friends has been something I have been so aware of for so long - you would have thought that it would have motivated me to lose weight before now but because they are so accepting and fantastic it was never an issue.

Having tried on the dress though I know that I can get the dress on - okay it doesn't close completely at the back but it stays up on its own so I really want to show the dress to them. They wont be at the actual wedding so they wont get to see it then and although I am wearing it to my reception back here I want their approval I suppose before I actually sign up and pay for it.

x

Slimming World Update - again

Hi All

So, went to slimming world this morning, now I have moved to the Wednesday morning group and jumped on the scales.
I lost a massive 3.5 lbs this week.
I was so chuffed. I had been strict with myself - well all except the Cadbury's Cream Egg I had during the week.
I have decided that things need to get sorted, I am going to order my wedding dress in a couple of weeks and I want my initial measurements to be as small as humanly possible in the time frame I have now. I know they can take the dress in as much as is needed but I would like it to not be a huge amount.

Looks like everything is going well - hopefully I don't muck it up again.

x

It was a great weekend........

So, on Saturday I posted about what my plans were for that day.

Exciting, I got my contact lenses. How sad am I that this is what was so exciting about the day.

We also went and collected our documentation for the wedding. I am going into the travel agents tomorrow to had everything back in as we brought it home to read over as some things were missing from the contract that we were promised so we were wanting to check it out for a while. We thought that because we had specified the date we wanted that it meant that we had got it but NO, they still have to contact the Dominican Republic judge to ask if this date is suitable. How annoying?!?

Bank Holiday Monday has been fun though - no work. Woo Hoo!

x

Excitement Building.

I am so looking forward to today.

Firstly I am looking forward to 12 - it is when I finish work and I can't wait.

Secondly once I am finished work David and I are heading up to the travel agents to sign our documentation for the wedding. I got a call during the week to say that all the forms had arrived 3 weeks ahead of schedule. We both have to go up and sign on the dotted line to say that we have definitely booked this wedding and it means that the wedding organiser in the Dominican Republic can get things moving to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible on the day.

Thirdly, and quite sadly most importantly, I am getting rid of my glasses today. I have been wearing glasses since the age 17 when we discovered during my driving lessons that I couldn't see very well without some assistance. I have always hated wearing my glasses, preferring to wear contact lenses. I have never suited glasses, I have one of these faces that just doesn't suit anything. I can't get away with hats, head scarfs etc. Due to financial situations outwith my control though we had to look at what we could cut back on - and one was my contact lenses. Now though we have stopped paying out money on a gym membership that we were not using so I can get my lenses back.

I am SO excited.

Have I said that once before?!? Thought so.

It also means that I can wear sunglasses on the rare occasions that we get the sun here. I never bought into the idea of prescription sunglasses, I would just rather wear contact lenses with normal sunglasses.
No more squinting for me - might sort out those early signs of crow's feet I have at the sides of my eyes too.

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

x

Happy May Day

Can you believe today is the 1st of May. How quick is the year going? I know that this is a sign of getting old.
This weekend is going to be a good one, we have a girlie day out planned for Sunday. We are heading back to the benefit make up stall in Edinburgh to get more make up tips and to buy some lovely stuff. I have my eye on the foundation and foundation brush - mine needs replacing urgently. I am sure we will make a day of it and maybe go out for some lunch as well.

Diet Update and more

So this morning I went to Slimming World. It was the first time in 3 weeks that I had been there. When I jumped on the scales I wasn't at all surprised to see that I had put on weight. What surprised me to see was that it was 6lbs. I knew I was putting the weight back on but I never knew it was so much. I have started to follow the diet again straight away and have been very good. Even when I was sent down to Sunderland near Newcastle for a delivery I managed to stop at a supermarket and buy healthy food instead of my usual burger from a motorway service station. I have to be good now - I am going to be ordering my wedding dress soon (within 6 weeks) and I want to order it to fit me but also want to get it taken in when it arrives.

Also, go check out this new blog.

http://www.shoeperwomen.com

It is written by a friend of mine so we have to make it as popular as possible.

Enjoy your Wednesday night.

x

Wedding Update

So, as we all know by now David and I have booked a holiday/wedding/honeymoon thingy to the Dominican Republic. It was booked last Saturday but we were told it would take about a month to get the date finalised with someone from the justice department over there. WEll imagine my surprise when I get a phone call this morning from Thomson to say that the wedding pack has arrived in the shop and it is awaiting our signatures. So we are going to pay them a visit on Saturday to do just that.

This means though that as far as I understand it we have a date set for our wedding. We provisionally requested a date in our second week as you have to be in the country for 5 working days before they will marry you. We picked the Wednesday as it gives us time afterwards to have a honeymoon as well.

So you ask, what date is our wedding taking place. Well I respond it is the 31st of March 2010. I hope that our friends Terry and Amber don't mind that we are stealing their date as they got married on that date 2 years ago.

Looking forward to it all now as it seems real that we have a date.

Woo Hoo.

x

Eye eye

I absolutely love this online beauty blog,

http://www.hey-dollface.com

They always discuss new products that are coming out on the market and also are willing to try them out on themselves first.

A couple of weeks ago they reviewed the Girls Aloud false eyelashes from Superdrug. Now I have been looking for false eyelashes for a while now so this really appealed to me. After seeing some of the before and after photos I decided to go out a buy them. This morning whilst I was out in the town centre I went into Superdrug and purchased my Cheryl Cole lashes. They are fantastic. They are quite short at the inner eye but at the outer eye they are so long and thick, and look amazing. I haven't actually tried them on yet, I am keeping them for my birthday night out in a couple of weeks but they look like they are going to be great.

If they work well I will probably get the rest of them to try - especially the Nicola Roberts ones as they are the shorter but thick lashes that I think I would like to wear for my wedding next spring.

Enjoy your weekend - check out the beauty blog, it's great.

x

Slimming World Update......no surprises here

So, Tuesday has been and gone but I haven't updated my blog as I didn't go - again.

My little van broke and I had to take it to the garage to get the exhaust fixed. But of course it meant that the mechanic couldn't look at it until 4pm - it was dropped off much earlier than that and it wasn't going to be ready until 6pm! That is 30 mins after the slimming world group starts, and the class is 20 miles away. As it was I went back at 6 to be told that it wasn't fixed, they needed to order more parts in. Typical.

Hopefully everything will go okay this week and I might actually make it into the class, if not then will see about getting in for the Wednesday morning class - cant keep going the way I am. Definitely piling the weight on at the minute which isn't good considering I am ordering my wedding dress in a couple of weeks. Argh!!!!!

Wedding Booked Again.......

On Saturday we went down to the travel agents and booked our wedding and honeymoon combination.

We have booked it for the Dominican Republic next March and I am so excited.
We were given half price upgrades on our flights too so we are actually saving even more money than with the previous wedding.

We should get a form through within the next month confirming the date we want for our wedding then everything will be rolling from there.

Now we are turning our focus to planning the reception and trying to find a suitable venue for that. I went to one possible venue on Saturday but unfortunately there was no-one there to speak to me.

x

On the look out again....

I cant believe I am doing this but I am on the look out for another wedding reception venue. I formally cancelled my wedding with the hotel yesterday, so now I have to find another venue to hold the reception when we come back from the Dominican Republic.
I am going out to some of the local hotels to see if they can accommodate us on the date we have picked, and hopefully they will be big enough for everyone we want to invite (about 200).
It is exciting but also nerve racking, what if I don't find anything? We might end up with a marquee in the back garden.

Have a good day.

x

To the end of the earth and back.......

...... well if we were living in the dark ages.

Today I went to Lochaline. That is on the far west coast of Scotland, over by Fort William and Oban. It really is one of the most westerly points in Scotland. If you look at it on a map you see that there is no land between there and North America. It took so long to get there, not helped by the fact that once we got off the ferry (going via the ferry saved me 4 hours of driving) we were following single track roads with passing places, not exactly ideal when driving a 3.5 tonne van.
The ferry itself is worth the trip up there. It is C shaped, and you go on and go off the ferry at an angle, and have to turn on the jetty.

Tuesday Update

Tuesdays for me is normally Slimming World but due to a delivery I took on this afternoon I couldn't go. I was actually looking for a way to get out of going tonight due to my complete lack of diet this week. I have been pretty much feasting on take aways this week when going up to the hospital or working the whole of the bank holiday weekend. So when the one of the companies we work for called and asked if anyone could go up to Aberdeen I volunteered. I just drove a 4 hour round trip to avoid getting on the scales - extreme or what?!?

Dominican Republic Update!!!!!!

Just a quick update, the Dominican Republic is GO!

We are going to book the holiday and wedding on payday (mine) at the end of the week.

Woo Hoo!

Bank Holiday Weekend......

........and for once the weather has been fantastic.

I have not minded working this weekend because I have been able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Ever since Friday when I stopped the deliveries and started on the security work I have been outside with the dog enjoying the sunshine, not that I have any colour to show for it right enough.

Yeterday was Easter Sunday so I bought David a:















and what did I get in return, a:


















well and a huge bunch of flowers. He isn't that bad to me really.

Hope you have all enjoyed the weather this weekend and are not to ad about going back to work tomorrow.


Enjoy what is left of the bank holiday.

x

Slimming World Update...sorry it's late

Okay, sorry it is late but it has been brought to my attention that I didn't write a blog entry about the Slimming World weigh in this week.
I did update my little box at the side of the blog but because the weight loss wasn't amazing it didn't catch many people's eyes. So thought I better tell you what happened.

I stayed the same this week.

No weight loss, but more importantly, no weight gain either. After the exciting (not in a good way) week that I have had though it is no surprise that I maintained my weight this week. I have been buying take aways when I should have been cooking healthy dinners because of the hours I have been keeping.

Hopefully this week things will be better.
Next update on Tuesday night.

x

I'm Back

So, I have just got back from the bridal shop and I loved it.

I tried on about 7 or 8 dresses, some I liked, some I didn't and a couple I loved.
I tried on 2 dresses a second time as they were my 2 favorites, then the bomb dropped - if I wanted one of them I would need to order it this week as it is being discontinued next week! That is so my luck. How typical. After trying the dresses on again though I decided that I actually preferred the one that isn't being discontinued (not intentionally) so I have plenty of thinking time. Unfortunately though I didn't get to try on the one dress I was going for so I am not making any set decisions until I have tried it on. Got to make some phone calls to the shop in Edinburgh now to see if they have it for me to try on. Although the dresses are very similar I would rather just wait until I have seen it - especially seeing as it is exactly the same price as the one I singled out today.

It is pretty exciting trying on all these beautiful dresses though.

x

Looking to the future...

Today I woke up to a text message saying my grandad had come through the surgery well and was wanting tea and toast. This is ideal as it means he has fought his way though the surgery last night (they keep him awake due to his heart problems).

Today I am going to start looking forward again and am going to start my wedding dress hunt today. Me, mum and David's mum are going down to the local dress shop to have a look at some of the gowns, and I will be trying on as many dresses as possible.

Lucky, Lucky me.

x

Manic Monday (and Tuesday and Wednesday)...

So it has been a couple of days since I last updated my blog but in those couple of days my life has been so hectic.

My grandad has been in hospital for a couple of weeks now, 2 weeks ago he had a below the knee amputation due to an infection he had in his foot. Today he went back into theatre to have more of his leg amputated as the infection returned. I have been up and down to the hospital over the last few days, trying to give my auntie a hand, even covering her slimming world classes as she couldn't get away from the hospital. When I weighed in last night I had stayed the same. After the week I have had though that is a really good result.

Life has definitely been manic this week.

x

Resepct the Law........yeah right!!!

So, today and in fact this week is completely different to what I am used too. I have no scheduled work, meaning no income at present. This worries me. As discussed on the last blog entry I have a tropical wedding to pay for now so lack of money is a problem for me.
The phone rings at 8.05 this morning, could I go to Glasgow? Nice and easy. "Definitely" I say. Delivery goes well and I start out home.

Back on the motorway linking Edinburgh and Glasgow (Livingston is also on this road) where I start getting harassed by 2 white vans. Normally I drive a white van when I am working but due to the early phone call I jumped into my little black car and went. I was literally getting boxed in with one van behind me and one in front. Trying to think logically before calling the police I am trying to find a pen (I always have a pen to hand in the car in case of address changes for deliveries) which of course I cant. I was literally driving along for about 10 junctions on the motorway with these "men" (I put that in brackets as real men wouldn't act like that) not allowing me to overtake or when I pull into the inside lane to let the one behind me overtake they move with me. I am starting to get scared. I dial 999 on the mobile (I have hands-free so I am legal - them on the other hand are clearly talking to each other and laughing their heads off on their hand-held mobiles) and report it to the police. I am told to go to the local police station as soon as I am off the motorway and do this. I am given an incident number and relay this so I don't have to go through the whole ordeal again.
What am I told - NOTHING THEY CAN DO as I have no witnesses!!!!!
Because there was 4 of them (in the 2 vans) and 1 of me I would not be believed if they were questioned as they would all stick together. Never mind that I am very visibly shaking and (embarrassingly) crying - although not so much that I look like a fool, maybe that would have helped though.

Well done. Glad to see that women are safe driving on their own!!!!

Decision Made

So, as the title suggests we have decided what we are doing about the wedding. We are going to head off to the sunny climate of the Dominican Republic in March. OMG! that is less than a year now until the wedding. Luckily for me though I am heading off to the dress shop in Thursday with my mum and future mother-in-law to try on some dresses and start the mammoth job of trying to find a dress.

We are going to start saving now for the holiday/wedding/honeymoon. We have found a holiday that is all inclusive, and really reasonably priced for their high season so going to book it next pay day.

Cant wait. 11 months til I become Mrs Cosgrove.

x

Sunshine here I come....

Just back from the travel agents. Was up getting loads of brochures for next year. We have been toying with the idea of getting married abroad for a couple of weeks now. Things are looking like they are progressing this way as we have emailed the hotel and asked about cancelling, and have thought about where we would go.
Today I went up to the travel agents in the centre and got some brochures and prices. Things are going to be so much cheaper if we go down this route. Obviously nothing is set in stone, at least until we talk to the families and see who would come. There is a big outlay for those not involved in the wedding, although they would be getting a 2 week holiday, with just 1 day taken up with the actual wedding and meal etc. There would definitely be a massive party when we got back as well. We still want to celebrate with everyone and we would host a party and have a vow renewal then. I think it is the best of both worlds - and I get to wear my dress twice. BONUS!

x

Tuesday means slimming world...

Tonight I trundled though to Edinburgh for my weekly Slimming World meeting. Got there and jumped on the scales (well not really, not that thin yet) and found out that I have managed to lose 1.5lbs this week. I have been following a different side of the diet - high in protein but no carbs. I have only been following it since Sunday so I am really chuffed with the weight loss I managed so far.

As well as the diet David and I have been using our new wii to work on our fitness. We bought a wii fit to go with the system and have been using it almost every day. We thought we would occasionally use it, like most of the things we bought, but so far anyway it has been used and planned to be used loads.

Hopefully this is the start of things to come and the weight will start to fly off.
Wedding dresses are going to be tried on soon.

x

weekly round-up

This week has been so manic, I have barely had time to think, let alone plan anything.

I have been working all week, even on Friday when I was meant to be of to get the house ready for the party that night. I also went back to Slimming world on Tuesday night - which was a disaster but also good as it has got me re-focused for getting into my wedding dress.

Friday night was good, a smaller number than originally expected turned up to the Virgin Vie party but it was good all the same, we played pass the parcel and the price was a luscious bubble bath from the range (which my mum won). As well as that we had a good gossip, munched loads of yummy food (cooked by me I may say - with a little help from David) and had a good time looking at and discussing the different products available. I confessed that I don't cleanse, tone and moisturise, instead opting for a face wipe dragged across the skin whenever I remember. Apparently this isn't very good for you so I have purchased the cleanser and toner to try and get into the habit of doing it.

Saturday morning was hectic to say the least. We went to collect our new sofa, actually Laura's old one but it i new to us and so comfy. We also went and purchased our Wii. We are so out-of-date when it comes to computer consoles but we have been wanting one for ages now. Then David, David's mum and I went to the wedding fayre at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. It was good but very crowded - not helped by the number of buggies that were there - is it me or does the mix of babies/toddlers & wedding dresses & drinks/sweets not add up? There were at least 2 dresses I looked at that had chocolate fingers on - and it was only the first day of the show.

Now at work, so expect many blog entries today as I think of them.

Enjoy the sunshine - although not the cold!

x

Slimming World Update

Can't remember what week I was up to so this is just a bit of an update.

I haven't been at Slimming World for 2 weeks now as I have been ill and working loads.
So, because I haven't been getting weighed recently I have definitely relaxed my focus on what I was eating, although I still had it at the back of my mind.

I have managed to put on 3.5lbs in the last 3 weeks since I was last weighed.
Getting back into the proper diet tomorrow so hopefully I will shift most of the weight I have gained this week.

Help.

x

Weekend Frolics

So, I am sitting here planning my weekend for next week.
Considering we lose an hour with the clocks going forward it has to be my most hectic weekend probably this whole year so far.

On Friday night I am hosting a Virgin Vie party in the house, and going by the verbal RSVPs I have received there is going to be a good number of people coming over. My friend from school is the one selling all the stuff so I want her to get a good commission, she is travelling over from Kelty in Fyfe to do the party.
On Saturday morning David & I as well as our mums are going into Edinburgh for the wedding fayre at the Corn Exchange. Last Year me and Michelle (one of my bridesmaids) went and had a great time so this year it will be good to show it to David and our mums. This is also the first time that David's mum has gone with us to a wedding fayre so it will be cool.
Saturday night I am going to an Ann Summers party at Michelle's house. So another night out and another shopping experience.

This week I am going to get a new TV stand from Ikea. I saw it yesterday and the more I think about it the more I decide that it will really fit in the living room and work better than the stand we have at the minute.

x

Peronal Trainer Sessions

So I have employed myself a personal trainer.
I need someone to kick my butt on a regular basis as I don't have the motivation to do it myself for longer than about a week (but even at the minute that is too long to maintain).
My personal trainer is no stranger to rapid, healthy weight loss and has all the skills to motivate me.

So, who is it I hear you cry?
Well it is David.

Not very original I know but he has promised to keep an eye on me - he even has me keeping a food diary.

Help.

x