Erm....now we're REALLY off!

One thing about me and diets is that it takes me a while to get back on board. If I can resist the crap food, the picking, the excuse of not having time to organise it then I'm fine. But when the excuses start after a couple of days then I know I'm not in the right frame of mind to start with.

Finally today I'm there. In the right head space where I know all I have to do is take a deep breath, plan this week, get through to the first weigh in, see the results and then be encouraged enough to keep on going. The thing with Slimming World is that it IS an easy eating plan, it DOESN'T cut out loads of food and it is maintainable...it's just that thing your brain does right in the beginning when it tells you that you're going to be miserable if you do it.....much like giving up the dreaded smoking, but more on that later.

So this blog will now officially become my motivation in lieu of not being able to get to SW meetings. Armed with my recipe books, some know how, the support from my family and hopefully some online motivation I'm hoping to crack this for good.

So this is day one. Officially day one. Have almost frozen from the cold this morning jumping onto the scales for that first weigh in (always have to be naked!!) and although I haven't gained ALL the weight I lost 18 months ago, I'm at 12 stone 8. My heaviest was 13 stone exactly and I managed to get to 11 before falling off the wagon. I'm just proud to be honest that I've actually put my weight there for all to see. It's the first time I've ever done it, only my hubby knows what I weigh.

Setting a final target is a bit too big to go for yet. At only 5 foot 1" it should be around 8st 7 but having not been that weight possibly since my teens, it's not something I feel comfortable setting. So my initial target is to get to 11st before enjoying a long weekend away with Pete for our wedding anniversary on the 19th April and then to hit 9st by our holiday at the end of August. At 2lb a week loss (which is generally what I average) both of these are achievable with weeks to spare as the weight often comes off much more slowly towards the end.

With regards being more active. That's a little more difficult at the moment but I'm hoping to get on the wii fit in a couple weeks time when work calms down a bit. I'm not a gym bunny by any means. In fact, I hate it with a passion. So for me it's probably going to be more walking, Wii Active and as I like dancing, think I'll look into Zumba which looks more up my street.

Well, it all starts with being organised and I've sat down and figured out what I want to cook this week, listed all my ingredients and been shopping. I'm not on a great budget (let's face it, who is at the moment) so nice cheap meals appeal. But I do tend to stick to the Extra Easy plan as it's one that generally fits in around the whole family. My first couple weeks, whilst I get back into it can be a bit boring but once I'm enjoying myself again I do experiment a lot.

I'd love for people to share recipes, tips and motivation and feel free to lead me to blogs and other websites which might help. So I guess it's up to me now......................

And we're off....

Jumped on the scales yesterday to view the damage and although it wasn't great, it certainly could have been worse. 50lb in 30 weeks. Sounds rather huge when you look at it that way so I've set a little target of losing 21lb by our wedding anniversary in April. 

I always take a couple weeks to get back into the healthy way of eating, maybe I shouldn't deviate so much when I decide to go mad really. Money being what it is for the moment, I'm not in a SW class so I'm doing it at home with my mountain of books and the Slimming World magazine. 

Being back at the start means I'm sticking with basics for a while so that I can get stable before starting to experiment a bit more. 

Today's breakfast was a SW classic. Bacon, grilled tomato, mushrooms and scrambled eggs. I do love having this when I've got time in the mornings as it's all free food if you're on red or extra easy. I never do green days as I'm pretty controlled when it comes to carbs (well, the healthier ones anyway). 

For lunch I'm having a ham and cheese sandwich with fruit and a yogurt so pretty basic. 

Then for evening meal it's Stew. Everyone loves stew and it's so healthy, especially now that stock cubes are free. Bearing in mind that I first did Slimming World about 18 years ago, it's funny to see some of the things that have become free over the years. 

So anyway, Stew. Easy to do and all syn free. Get some lean casserole or braising steak cubes and fry them in a heavy saucepan with seasoning. Obviously you're going to use fry light or some other low fat oil spray to do that adding salt and pepper. Once the meat is browned, remove it with a slotted spoon and put to one side. I chop leek, onion, carrots, and parsnips. These I then add to the pan to pick up the flavour of the beef, just fry the veg for about 10 minutes, fully coating it in all the pan juices from the meat. 

I then add a couple of dried bay leaves, pop the meat back in and add as much beef stock as need to completely cover the ingredients. Let this simmer away whilst you peel and chop some potatoes. Don't cut them too small or they'll break up completely with the slow cooking. I'd say I cut mine so that each one is half the size of a (woman's) fist. Once the pan has been on simmer for about half an hour, add the potatoes and if neccessary, more stock. 

I then leave mine as long as possible. Normally a couple of hours with the lid on. I'll taste it after an hour and then add stuff to taste. It could be a little soy sauce (yup that's right!) some mixed herbs, some more seasoning, 

Most people have their own preferences for stew so just add little bits, stir and taste. Just remember that dumplings aren't really an option this time!

So long since I blogged I don't know where to begin to be honest. Had inspiration over the weekend to start again as I'm back on Slimming World and thought it may be motivation to keep going. Also stopped smoking so this could be the kind of blog that is very depressing for a while LOL! Lets see if I can keep this up. Right off to do first weigh in because just dipped a toe in the water this weekend and stayed off the bad stuff. Going to weigh in today but shopping coming tomorrow so that's when I properly get back into it.

MIA

Yup I have been, truth be told the nightmare with the uploading and placement of photos has kind of put me off using the blog for a while now so I haven't bothered to come back to it. Thinking of having a play with it tomorrow and see where that takes me. Night all!

Time to say goodbye...again

Well once again I don't seem able to work this photo thing out so the very few photos i've put on are on here backwards but hey...who will know!

So yesterday the RN kidnapped Pete for the first time this year and he disappeared off not to be seen again for a few months. I'm in a strange place with it this trip as I'm happier than I've been for such a long time which makes me more relaxed and in a more chilled out place and at the same time, I'm going to miss him more than ever. It's not a massively long trip and by the time he comes back we'll be close to going away together.

Nowhere fancy as we're still on a tight budget but we decided to put the extra cash from a council tax and water rate free Feb and March down on a holiday park get away. Will be the first time we've gone away for so long and it will be nice just to have a change of scenery. Just have to hope that it won't be the third holiday on the trot cancelled because of Pete going away. This time I've decided that if he can't come I'll take the girls on my own......if that happens I could need a holiday after to recuperate!

One thing that we did manage to squeeze into Pete's time home was the little ones baptisms. We had been trying to do this since shortly after Emily was born and it's nice that finally we got there. In a way, them being older was a bit more special as they got to hold their baptismal candles themselves and understood more of what was happening.

I must admit, I didn't wash the girls hair for about three days afterwards because there is something so beautiful and peaceful about snuggling up and smelling the Chrism oil on their heads. Thanks to everyone that made it a great occasion. Father Tim did a fantastic job, especially as all the paperwork didn't make it to him in time and so he didn't have all the details that were needed.

We had the baptisms after the Vigil Mass so there were only a few close friends present, but at the end of the Mass before everyone went, Father Tim called the girls up to the alter to let them parade around in their dresses and everyone gave them a round of applause. You should have seen the delight on Emily and Natashas faces.

Right, as Mr F has now gone, the clean up begins. The slipping into the sea routine happens which starts with sorting this house out...why is it always a mess when he's home? At least he managed to get the hallway finished before he left so a little more glossing and that baby is waiting for a new carpet. Only taken three years............x

Dipping a toe in gently

OK, I'm officially a crap blogger. Real life triumphs again and has been getting in the way of down time plus I have tried to blog before but for some strange reason I can't drag and drop photos in blogger anymore and have given up several times when trying to post because the page no longer scrolls when you drag your photo....sort it out blogger, not all of us are HTML buffs cos if I was my blog would obviously look far more exciting! Anyway,

we survived Xmas (just) and here we are in a New Year. What will 2010 hold? Well, the last year was a bit of an annus horibilus or however the Queen put it (never did latin at school). I have so many hopes for this year, it's a year to start afresh, a new decade and a new chapter. They say sometimes you have to get to the darkest depths to get a better perspective and the year hasn't started particularly well, but things can only get better and the last week has been one of the best weeks of my life.....no kidding!


This is a time for making changes and planning for the future. The benefits won't be reaped for some time yet, but feeling as though you're on the right path and that your head is clear of clutter certainly helps.


Xmas was small and cozy. The kids got a great array of presents and were well and truly spoilt again. Although we couldn't get loads this year they got everything they really really wanted and luckily they aren't the most demanding of kids.


Freya was mostly clothes, her phone, smellies and a leather biker jacket that she really wanted. Personally I hate it but she loves it and it's better than the bloody neon green tutu she came back with last time she went in town on a spending spree. Just look at the grubby finger marks all over it within five minutes. Within 2 days she'd lost the stylus for it as well. Kids eh?


Emily really wanted a guitar and telescope, she also got loads of shark bits and bobs as she has been obsessed with sharks for about the last year now. She also got some clothes and a new build a bear plus loads of drawing and painting stuff...she really could spend hours at the table drawing sharks of all descriptions.

Natasha got lots of Ponyville and Peppa Pig stuff but what she really wanted was a Hello Kitty so we got one from Build a Bear complete with pretty outfit and she hasn't let it go since. Pete was duty on Christmas day which meant he had to go in for 9 in the morning and didn't come home til Boxing Day morning. Thinking it would be too strange to be home with just the kids, we went down to the boat for Christmas Dinner. Not many women can say they've had Xmas dinner on a submarine. Funniest thing was when Freya had to check in her brand new swish phone that she'd got that morning before she could go below deck....you'd have thought they wanted to cut off the white knuckled hand that was attached to it.



So we had the biggest plate of Xmas dinner and as it was Natashas first experience on a sub, she got a tour of Pete's bunk space and seemed to think that it was funny that her dad still sleeps in a bunk bed in his early 40's! Freya also had the oxygen mask strapped to her which was hilarious as she sounded like Darth Vader and looked petrified!



We survived onboard for about 3 hours before the girls started getting itchy feet (or in Freyas case, itchy texting finger) and then popped round to see my little sis so all the cousins together could wreck their house. It's always fun to watch my OCD sister trembling with fear at the mess the kids are going to make.

Well, was going to do a fuller update but as this has taken me so long to rearrange the photos I'll have to leave the rest for another day. Possibly tomorrow. Night all.

Not quite a calendar month since my last entry but running a little late never the less! At least I can blame it on the time of year, 3 birthdays and Xmas makes a rather manic last couple of months of the year.

Life has been a bit strained lately, physically and emotionally draining and I'm hoping that the end of the year may bring some closure, whilst the new year will bring some clarity. I have a lot to think about between now and then for sure but I'm confident things will be easier then. At the moment I seem to have so much on my plate that sometime I just feel like doing nothing but hide away and this week is certainly one of those times.

Once again, the Navy interrupted Petes leave. We got a call telling him that he was to fly out and meet the boat. It's only a few weeks and they're currently on their way back home for Xmas (fingers crossed) but the timing is a bit shitty. It's the second time he's tried to get the hallway decorated and been called back early. Hopefully I'll get the painting done before he comes home but the wallpaper will have to wait....again! Such a shame because it's the first opportunity that he's had to take his untaken leave for four years and once again it's interrupted. Oh well, life in a blue suit eh? The other drawback though is missing Emilys birthday.

....my little Einstein is six today (or 'almost seven' if you listen to her). We have a little party planned for this evening with a few family members coming round but nothing too crazy. Luckily none of the little ones are home til 6 so i've got plenty of prep time for it. It's been a mad rush of it today as everything was put on hold for pay day and so today it's been sorting bills, getting presents, food, road tax and starting to switch my attention toward Christmas.

With money tight, the kids won't be getting much, although that doesn't worry them in the least but I'm hoping that this time next year we'll be in a much better position although we will have to get a new car next year as Billy Bongo is becoming more unreliable.

It also looks like Pete will be working Xmas day which means he will probably leave here at about 8 on xmas morning and won't be home til around 9ish on Boxing day. That is going to feel a bit strange. I'm in two minds as to whether to postpone everything by a day although I don't think the girls will let me get away with that one.

I started pulling my scrap stuff out last night. I made a few simple cards for Christmas just to ease myself back into things. I remember how it was a way of helping me unwind so I'm hoping to do a bit more over the coming weeks. I'll post some bits hopefully this week.

The girls all seem to be doing well though. I had my first brief meeting with Freyas form tutor at school which was just an informal five minute thing to see how they had settled and when I walked in he said 'Freya really stands out'. He could tell by the fiery look in my eyes that he then needed to add...'in a good way'! She's enjoying it (although not the amount of homework), has made great friends and is generally loving being at the comp. Her work has been excellent and she's got a bronze commendation for the amount of commendation slips she's received so far plus a postcard sent home from one teacher praising her work she's done in her lessons. I'm really proud of her as I set the rule before she went that during the week she gets her head down and keeps on top of things leaving the weekends mostly free and she's stuck to that.

She has been going out weeknights if she's up to date with her homework and has been darting between the two youth clubs, talking about boys constantly and explaining to me what's cool and what's not (although purely by me saying 'cool' is probably 'uncool'!) She certainly had a good weekend last week as I took her and a friend to watch Lily Allen in the Pavilions. Considering Ms Allen was suffering from laryngitis she gave a top notch performance. Then on Sunday she went with her friend to watch New Moon or whatever it's called.....I dunno, I haven't even watched Twilight!

A couple weekends ago we went to the China Fleet for a HMS Torbay family get together. My friend Kath was a star and took the girls in the swimming pool for me (bathing suits aren't something you'll see me in in the near future). Natasha managed half an hour before deciding she wanted out, Emily lasted a half hour after that which surprised me as she's a real water babe.

Whilst I got the little ones dried and changed, Kath made Freya swim lengths using only her legs and that seemed to push her somewhat....she'll do it again if I tell her it will give her buns of steel! After all that hard work it was a gorgeous carvery and the kids cleaned their plates. Then off to work off some more calories at the park and on the bouncy castles.

So off I go to get the food and decs ready for tonight...who knows, maybe even squeeze in a couple more cards?!

OMG!

You know the blog that I found the other day where I entered a photo of Emily in her Little Miss Sunshine outfit? Well I got placed 9th out of over 300 and among that are professional photographers too!

How pleased am I? I'm gonna grab myself one of the girls sticky stars and wear it all day! I even get a special blinkie to put on my blog! COOOOOOOOOL

The hangover...

not just from last night (and to be honest thats more to do with tiredness than alcohol as I behaved impecibly again) but from the whole half term. It's been a crazy one certainly.

There has been so much going on what with birthdays etc. Freya had Paige down to sleep the middle of the week for a couple nights. They both went to the local youth club...a different one from where Freya normally goes but they enjoyed themselves and seemed to have fun catching up. Watching them get all dolled up to go out was quite amusing too.

Shame they seemed to have a bit of a barny before she left though when they were coming out of swimming which I didn't find out until after I'd dropped Paige off. What is it with girls?

Then of course it was all prep for the Halloween bash. Myself and Pete (well, mostly Pete) did our pumpkins on Friday afternoon and then Freya did another on Friday night. It's Petes first go at carving as he's missed the last few halloweens but I loved them all...hidden talent there I think.

Freya did the vampire biting the womans neck one, although you have to get your eyes to go lazy to see it...or at least I do. Cracking job though and I know she was really proud of it.

We stayed up on Friday night to get the playroom 'spookified' and did a great job. We had all sorts of nastiness hanging from the ceiling, cobwebs, spiders, spooky music, smoke machine, gravestones and stuff and went to bed happy knowing the kids were going to love it. I also covered the walls of the hallway in fake blood....luckily we're decorating it next week so it wasn't really an issue...just a moment of madness.

I did take plenty of photos but don't like to upload ones of the girls friends unless their parents are ok with it and as I haven't asked permission i'll err on the side of caution. But we had a fab time with Emily saying 'This is the best halloween party EVER' several hundred times during the course of the evening.

Myself and Pete were a zombie bride and Death. Pete did have a voice changer thing but it was absolute pants and we disposed of that pretty quickly. I even relented and had my photo taken......urrghhhhh!

The girls all looked great and I'm so pleased I got decent facepaint as it was so much easier to do. Not that I'm an artistic genius...far from it, but it certainly looked better than previous years efforts. Freya just wanted to look a bit dark, so we kind of did her make up like Pink in the 'Please Don't Leave Me' video where she goes all weird! She looked very dark but funky.

Emilys facepaint was probably the best though. I was really pleased with hers and she looked great.......at least until the apple bobbing where it all came off and she looked a bit streaky.

Natasha on the other hand had to be a 'beautiful witch' and refused to have green facepaint...it had to be pink, white and glittery! I just do as I'm told. She did look adorable though and the night has certainly taken it out of her as she's currently next to me zonked out and snoring on my bed.

We played hangmans donuts, dress the mummy, balls in a cup and apple bobbing. The kids all made their own toffee apples and decorated them to take home with them along with their goody bags of gruesomeness.


My sister, Sheree and her chap Jay turned up with the neice and nephew. Sheree looked a little too sexy to be scary and she lost her wig later in the night to Natasha.

As for Jay......I'm still trying to work out what his painted face reminds me of....i'm sure it's some character from a computer game...some kind of weird ghost ghoul thing! Mind you, he looks better here than he did first thing this morning!

Freyas friend Kate arrived and they took the younger ones trick or treating whilst we cleared up after the school friends had all gone home. When I say 'clear up' I mean that in the loosest possible way as I'm still dealing with the fallout now. They returned with stocked up goody bags and enough sweets to see them through at least til Xmas.

Come 7.30, it was just us, my sis, the cousins and Freya's mate. Sheree brought over a pinatta (not sure of the spelling but as this is something completely alien to Europeans I'll assume you'll let that one slip!) This was apparently going to be a sedate pinatta as you pull strings rather than bash the poor thing to bits with big sticks......

....however, that did not go to plan as as soon as the sweets started raining from the skies there was the inevitable scramble of kids on the floor, diving into them as if they hadn't seen a sweet in their life! Flailing arms, legs, bumped heads and tears later it was time to open the bottles and fire up the PS3 with the singstar.

The house today is eerily quiet. Everyone is knackered. The rest of the family have gone home and although most of the mess is gone, I'm sure to be finding Halloween confetti for the next week or so. Freya is finishing off some homework for the week and Pete is probably mentally preparing himself for the amount of decorating he has to do over the next few weeks. The headache is starting to kick in and so it's definately an early night here tonight.

So it's off to get the uniforms pressed for the morning and finish the last of the housework (at least downstairs anyway) and hide the mountain of sweets so that the kids don't try to eat them all in one go.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween. x

Happy Halloween from the Farrells......enjoy!

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