My January

So as I type this, January is almost at an end; I've never known a January to last so long but that isn't necessarily a negative thing. This month has been jam packed with my new yoga venture which has definitely kept me on my toes. It has increased the fire in my belly and now I yearn to embrace more, learn more, challenge myself more and grow more. Training to become a yoga teacher for children has been one of the best of things I have done and it has been an absolute joy this month to start my business off. The smiles, the laughter, the positivity, the calm, the relaxation and the gratitude I have seen in my little yogis in just one month makes me burst with warmth and happiness inside.

Alongside teaching yoga, I've also made sure I've hit the mat for my own practice continuing to go to a lush weekly class as well as finding time in the week to roll out the mat at home. I'm increasingly aware that yoga is not just about the mat and achieving a yoga pose goal and have felt it changing my outlook on life in many other ways. Back in November I made the final steps to follow a fully vegan diet and much of this life choice has been influenced by the compassionate element of yoga. January has seen me continue to have a great time in the kitchen trying new foods, testing new recipes, veganising old favourites and trying to get the family to have fully vegan days - the kiddos almost got there today until they admitted that they had been eating their Christmas chocolate upstairs!

Last year was definitely a year of running for me with three half marathons completed and January has seen me continue to lace up the faithful Nikes and hit a few pavements. The miles are down a bit on this time last year - just 41 this month - but the enjoyment is still there. Every week I meet up with a work colleague and through running we have forged an amazing friendship beyond the classroom walls. Our runs may be slower due to all the chatting but they leave me warm on the inside - which has been helpful on some of our cold January plods.

As January finishes off with a cold, wet and grey finale I had a ray of sunshine with the confirmation that I am off to Soul Circus again this summer. I went to the first Soul Circus event last year, on my own, and loved every minute of it. If you enjoy yoga, good food and decent live music then take a look. And keep an eye out on my blog and social media for news of a ticket giveaway!

I hope your January has been a good one too.

x x x

Project 365 2017 #4

Week 4 of Project 365 2017 and illness crept into the house.

Day 22
The girl was feeling low yesterday and today she was confined to the sofa with a lousy cough and was generally feeling like rubbish. I spent some time in the sunny kitchen cooking up some food and baking some cakes for the week ahead; lemon cake, cinnamon and banana cake, meringues, hummus and sweet potato and coconut soup - all vegan naturally.
Day 23
I had to call on the mother in law for help today as the girl was off school and I had yoga classes to take. So feeling grateful I went and set up my classes - someone was feeling the cold in the room.
Day 24
Tuesday is run with my buddy day and we met up for our usual jaunt around Lacock. It was cold and beautiful but neither of us were feeling it today ending up doing just 5 miles.
Day 25
Parent's evening at work last night on my day off so an early one tonight as feeling a bit yuck- a yogi tea was needed.
Day 26
Another parent's evening, and a late one at that, and feeling yuck again so I crawled into bed with the Simple Things magazine and hot water bottle to ease the pains.
Day 27
Today I spent the day sneezing and feeling pretty rubbish at work - my running buddy had it yesterday so that explains our poor show on Tuesday - and once home I ran a hot bubble bath whilst my nose continued to drip.
Day 28
No yoga classes this morning and strangely feeling much better. We headed into Bath as we had promised the girl a trip in to spend her Christmas clothes voucher and money. Apparently it poured with rain - that must have happened during the hour I was in one shop with her deciding what to buy! After the shop we walked past Bath Abbey to meet the boys.

x x x

Project 365 2017 #3

Week 3 of Project 365 2017 has been a busy and fulfilling one.

Day 15
A quiet Sunday with the kiddos at home. I'd planned to get up early for a morning run but seeing as Sunday is my only day for a lie in all week I soon changed my mind. Once the husband returned from work though I put the runners on and headed out for a 5 mile late afternoon run and caught a snippet of the setting sun.
Day 16
Yoga class this morning with my lovely home ed families where we had a focus on breathing; the Hoberman sphere is a great tool for this.
Day 17
Tuesday morning is run day with my lovely friend. We met up in Lacock for 6.5 miles around the country lanes finishing in front of the famous Red Lion pub in the village.
Day 18
A cold start to Wednesday with a beautiful pink sky to admire whilst de-icing the car.
Day 19
A long day at work was followed by a much needed yoga class. After that I tucked myself up in bed with some yoga texts to start some self study.
Day 20
Friday is no longer cake day at work but that didn't stop my lovely friend and colleague bringing me over a vegan chocolate 'hobnob'!
Day 21
Today was a good Saturday with a couple of super yoga classes this morning with an amazing bunch of kids. I then managed to shoot out for a chilly 5 mile run before lunch before seeing the in-laws this afternoon who have recently returned from their 3 month trip to New Zealand.

x x x

Project 365 2017 #2

Week 2 of Project 365 2017 and everyone is fully immersed back into their routines and 2016 seems so far in the past.

Day 8
Needed a gin and lemonade tonight.
Day 9
First yoga class with my home ed families and what a lovely group. Then it was off to the local preschool to teach 2 to 4 year olds - needless to say I am loving it!
Day 10
I met up with my work colleague and running buddy for 5.5 miles around Lacock. Felt like a rubbish friend when I got home and realised it was her birthday.
Day 11
An evening run to the village pub and back - I didn't go in.
Day 12
A cold day with excited kiddos at school waiting for the heavy snow fall that was forecast - there wasn't a single flake. I cosied up tonight with a new magazine, Vegan Life, and found some tasty looking meals to try.
Day 13
The cold, dark days at work make photography a bit of a challenge so another bedtime snap today. My latest bit of easy reading from the library but I fell asleep as soon as I started reading.
Day 14
Another lovely yoga session this morning with my two groups - lots of them came back and there were new faces too. This afternoon we took a walk along the local canal to get some fresh air and take in a little bit of sunshine and lots of fresh air - all is good.

x x x

Project 365 2017 #1

I can't quite believe we are back to week 1 of Project 365 again!
This is my fourth year taking part and I can't wait to see what 2017 has to offer.

Day 1
New Year's Day and a bit of a lazy start to the year for me and the kiddos - the husband had to go to work. I cooked a vegan Shepherdess Pie for tea which was a success for 3 out of 4 of us - my boy couldn't cope with the amount of veg and lentils!
Day 2
We had a lovely family day in Bath today parking up at the university and walking part of the Skyline down to the canal. I finally met one of the husband's friends from work and we had a cuppa at his canal-side house - all very nice!
Day 3
A cold one for the last day of the holidays for me and the kiddos. The girl headed off into town with her friend and the boy ended up with two friends in the conservatory whittling wood. I headed down the garden to pick some thyme and rosemary and spotted the moon and Venus overhead.
Day 4
Back to school for us all today. We were all a bit low about this but it did us good to get back into routine. As soon as I got home I put on my runners - the first time in 4 weeks - for a 5k to the village and back. It was a bit tough and I fear my fitness levels have dropped massively.
Day 5
Back to yoga after missing it last week. It was a chilly night so thick socks and a shawl were needed for savasana.
Day 6
I got myself and my bags prepped for my first yoga classes on the weekend. I was a big ball of nervous energy.
Day 7
First yoga classes this morning were great fun with lots of positive feedback so I hope everyone comes back next week! This afternoon I chilled with my library book that has been reserved so I need to get it read by Tuesday - Miranda Sawyer's Out if Time is a great look at the midlife of a modern woman and I recommend it.

x x x