Project 365 2015 #22

Half term is here for week 22 of Project 365 2015 and what a lovely break it has been. We have stayed home but filled our time locally.

Project 365 #22

Day 144
Lazy Sunday followed by an indoor workout and hula hooping in the garden.
Day 145
Bank Holiday Monday run along the canal where I decided that I love a change of scenery whilst running and beating the barges but my road running shoes were not designed for the towpaths. Obviously.
Day 146
Report writing day today so the kiddos were under strict instructions to just play and leave me well alone. Luckily they had a friend for company then my friend took them all out to play at a park in Bath. Luckily I had strawberry bonbons to fuel me through.
Day 147
My girl suggested Great Chalfield Manor today and what a great idea. It is a lovely place for a quiet wander around. We then headed to a nearby village for a picnic by the park.
Day 148
A walk to town so my boy could spend some birthday money, my girl could find some stationery for letter writing and I could pick up the latest Simple Things magazine. Later we cooked pasta al fresco.
Day 149
After my canal run I found some bargain trail shoes online and today my Adidas Kanadia shoes arrived. I have yet to test them out but I cannot wait!
Day 150
Today we spent a few hours out at Stourhead, as you may know, one of my favourite spots.

x x x

The B&W Photography Project no. 13

Dandelion clock

Tick tock tick tock.
Time passes by in the blink of an eye.
The fragile dandelion clock stands in a field stretching out towards the setting sun.
Waiting for its moment to fly.

x x x

Project 365 2015 #21

Week 21 of Project 365 2015 and the sun shone - for most of it.

Project 365 #21

Day 137
A chilly sunny day at Tyntesfield followed by a drive back over the Clifton Suspension Bridge and everyone was happy. The sky looked glorious above the house.
Day 138
A rainy morning but I was happy to run in it - fewer people on the pavements to hear my heavy breathing! I reached 7km today so was smiling when I got back.
Day 139
A rare trip into Bath with the husband today. I picked up a few running bits and we had a tea and coffee at one of our favourite spots followed by lunch.
Day 140
Back to work day. It was a long one but a good one and on my return there was an Iris on the patio left by the mother in law.
Day 141
I wandered down the garden after work today and discovered my alliums in full bloom. I love the shape of these flowers - like an exploding firework.
Day 142
Friday run tonight, a pleasant 5k round the villages then I spotted the sun setting so headed back to the field and found a blanket of dandelions.
Day 143
A nondescript day and I had a bit of time chilling in the shack with a book and a cuppa.

 

x x x

Project 365 2015 #20

I have had my positive head on for week 20 of Project 365 2015.
And as the week draws to an end the sun is shining!

Project 365 #20

Day 130
A change to my usual sausages and pancakes today. I was feeling a bit sluggish so piled on the natural yoghurt, banana, almonds, seeds and lemon curd - on top of the pancakes!
Day 131
Happymail today in the form of my rather lovely racing medal bling for the RMR Spin into Spring 5k Virtual Runner race.
Day 132
The alliums are starting to emerge at the bottom of the garden.
Day 133
To beat my Wednesday blues I headed out for an evening run. This is what I love about this time of year, I can run and watch the sunset.
Day 134
A last minute snap today for my #embracehappy #3goodthings picture - the heart magnet on the fridge.
Day 135
My girl came into me this evening and said, "Mummy I have some flowers for you". Aquilegia from the garden. Love her.
Day 136
A 6k run today - my longest and fastest so I was happy. I walked for a while afterwards to help recover and snapped the Cow's Parsley on the roadside - or is it Ground Elder?! Please excuse the blur - sweaty hands!

x x x

Running & Goals {Run Mummy Run - Virtual Races}

Some of you that follow my Project 365 posts and Instagram feed may know that I am back out there running again. And a running me is a happy me. There have been pictures of my trainers, my apps, my sweaty tops, my negative splits and most recently my very first piece of running bling - my awesome RMR Spin into Spring 5k Virtual Race medal from Run Mummy Run and Virtual Runner UK.
See, it actually spins!

Now, I know 5k isn't that far but it is a start - well another start! You may recall that I trained myself up for the amazing Team Honk Relay last year where I ran 5 miles but then had a niggly IT Band a week afterwards. Following some pricey physio and a few painful runs I sadly decided to let running take a backseat.

In the mean time I focussed on yoga and trying to strengthen and correct my, quite frankly pretty shoddy, core and posture.

Fast forward to March this year when the girl asked me to go for a run with her and the buzz has returned. I researched some running stretches and have been extra careful to stretch, stretch and stretch some more before and after running - I particularly focus on stretches for the IT band and my foam roller has been my odd friend!

Now, the problem I have with running, and a lot of things in life, is patience, focus and attitude. There are days I feel I simply cannot be arsed to step outside the front door and run. When this starts to happen I set myself a goal. My first goal was the 5k Virtual Race - these are fantastic to do. Head to VirtualRunnerUk and you will find a selection of runs throughout the year; simply pick your distance, do your run in the given time slot, send in proof and await your race medal. It's as simple as that!

There is a downside though.
It gets addictive.
I've already signed myself up for the RMR Sparkle 5k in June to get my hands on one of these beauties...

And so for my next goal. I am signing up for the Race for Life 10k in July. This gives me two months to train sensibly and double my current running distance.
I can do that yes?!

x x x

 

Disclaimer: Run Mummy Run and Virtual Runner UK have had no influence in this post. I have written it purely to show how they have inspired me as a beginner runner. Go check them out!

Official Blogger for Camp Bestival 2015!

Many readers of this blog will know my absolute love of the family festival that is Camp Bestival. Since we first attended back in 2010, with a 4 and 2 year old in tow, it has always been on the children's lists of 'summer musts' and has made regular appearances on this blog over the years.
Therefore, I am so, so very proud to have been asked to be an Official Blogger for 2015.

If a festival has been something you have wondered about doing with your family then all I can say is DO IT!

On here there are oodles of posts, photos, reviews and information that should answer lots of questions and, over the coming months, I'll be posting more to entice and inform you.

But for now, check out this video from Camp Bestival 2014 that shows just a snippet of what is on offer from arts, crafts, food, stage shows, music and the grand firework finale that is always a highlight every year.

x x x

 

 

Disclaimer: I am receiving family Camp Bestival 2015 tickets in return for previews and reviews of this year's festival. As always, views and opinions are my own.



Project 365 2015 #19

Week 19 of Project 365 for 2015 has been one of ups and downs luckily ending on a big up!

Project 365 #19

Day 123
Following a couple of days of lots of food and a little bit of drink I needed to get out in the fresh air, so I dragged the girl out - in the pouring rain - for a walk amongst the buttercups.
Day 124
Bank Holiday Monday and we all headed up to Dyrham Park - clearly a favourite spot for us here.
Day 125
I headed out to run my virtual 5k race today and was so chuffed to get a PB. I was a bit annoyed with myself for stopping my app 100 metres over so clearly I need to get myself a Garmin!
Day 126
Back to work day and the tulips were drooping. A reflection of my mood!
Day 127
Today my baby boy turned 7. As every year passes I find it harder to believe he's another year older and my little boy is slipping away from me. We went to the polling station but I'm not going into politics here!
Day 128
Friday ended with an evening run in the rain, which I always enjoy, then I received an email inviting me to be a Camp Bestival blogger again this year - a great end to the week!
Day 129
Party day today. We survived the soft play centre then it was back home to stuff their faces silly with party food, and cake.

x x x

Project 365 2015 #18

It's been a funny old set of days for week 18 of Project 365 2015; stress knots, phones in the bath and flowers galore!

Project 365 #18

 

Day 116

It was time to tackle the nettles and weeds and do some gardening today. I always think I'm going to like this job but I seldom do!

Day 117

A perfect day for line drying the well loved animals today. There is something so lovely about the simplicity of drying laundry on washing lines don't you think?!

Day 118

I am so chuffed today! I went out for my second run after a two week rest for my niggly IT band and thought I was taking it steady - in fact I geared up for every kilometre and ended up with negative splits, which is a good thing! I completed 4.05 km and next goal is the full 5km again.

Day 119

A wander around the aquarium today to learn all about sea creatures. The moon jellyfish are so vibrant - just not that well caught on a mobile phone camera.

Day 120

The lovely husband came home with my favourite flowers tonight. Sunflowers - obviously! I think he realised I was having a stressful week with work and I had developed a knot of pain in my left shoulder blade area. So, he ran me a hot bath. Which I decided to drop my phone into. Luckily a quick dip did minimum damage.

Day 121

More flowers when I got home today, this time tulips. The mother in law had been round pottering and clearing up in the back garden. The scaffolding is still up but the patio looks a bit more bearable now.

Day 122

A morning run followed the regular swimming lesson for the boy and some chores in town. Later we are having a family get together with my in laws - one who is visiting from New Zealand so by the end of the weekend I will probably want to emigrate. We were hoping to be out in the garden so solar lights now adorn my shack - but it is way too cold today. Instead we have a pie extravaganza lined up!

 



 

x x x