My Spring Wishlist

Friday was the first day of Spring, and to mark the occassion here's my Spring Wishlist.

1. Opi Gel Nail Polish - Warm Me Up - £15.39

I love this colour so much. It's a beautiful browny/grey colour that changes depending on the light and what you're wearing with it. Some times its very dark, almost black. Other times its got a more purple/copper tinge to it. It's my go to colour when I get my nails done at my salon back home, but having the ability to do it at home would be perfect.

2. Jack Wills - Tinsbury Crew - £59.50

I love my Jack Wills jumpers...I have four already. But the colour of this one is great for summer, so light and bright, and it'll be nice and warm on those cold days we're bound to still get. 

3. Hedgehog Love Mug - £13.39

I'm a bit behind the times, and only recently discovered Etsy but since I have I'm addicted. This is a recent find that I love. It's such a cute design.

4. Oasis - Printed 2 Part Flat Shoes - £20 (currently in the sale, originally £28)

I've been eyeing up these shoes for ages thinking they'd be great for spring/summer. Lovely colours and pattern, and brilliant for day or night. Now that they're in the sale for £20 I'm definitely going to have to purchase....as soon as the website lets me.

5. Mango - Flecked Cotton Dress - £49.99

Mango isn't somewhere I'd normally think of looking in for clothes, but on a desperate search for a black dress the other week I ventured in and fell in love with this dress. It's a great style, super soft, and a brilliant length for work. I'd have bought it the day I saw it if it'd had been in my size. Unfortunately it wasn't, but I have it on order and I can't wait for it to arrive.

6. Next - Ceramic Tealights - £12

Next is brilliant for it's home range, there's always lovely accessories to suit all different room styles and colour schemes. These would be brilliant in my bedroom. The colours would go perfectly and the  'Love' theme is so cute.

7. Brita Maxtra Filter - £16

This is probably the least exciting item on my wish list, but it's really high on my to purchase list. I've been spoilt at my parents as they have a fridge with built in water cooler and ice maker. Now that it's getting a bit warmer I'm really missing having cold water to drink so will be treating myself to one of these very soon.

8. Three Diamond Ring - £202.83

This is definitely an if I win the lottery purchase, but it's so pretty! I like very simple and subtle jewellery, and when I saw this I fell in love. It's looks so delicate and worth a lot more than it is. I love Etsy for finding things like this.

9. Always Tank Top - £15.13

This is another of my favourite Etsy finds. I'm a big Harry Potter fan and already have a Deathly Hallows phone case, but this t-shirt takes it a step further combining the Deathly Hallows sign with 'Always', the phrase which changed everyone's outlook on Snape. It'll be perfect with a pair of jeans/shorts in the summer, or for wearing to dance or to cover up with by the pool on holiday. When I reach my target weight, this is going to be my treat to myself.

Sarah x

100 Happy Days...Day 84

Day 84 - Trips out with Omar

Omar and I decided to have a little trip to Ikea to do get some furniture ideas for my flat. Although he wasn't very helpful in making any decisions (he only liked the colour wood that I'd already ruled out), he did make the trip more enjoyable. From trying to climb into a child's egg chair, hiding amongst things, and trying to push me into a wardrobe to go visit Narnia, it's safe to say it was a very interesting trip. So lesson of the day, boyfriends aren't always helpful when making decisions on house furniture, but Ikea is like a big play area for them and they will just make you laugh all the time you're there.

100 Happy Days...Day 82

Day 82 - Finishing Exams

I've finished my exam! It was such a nice feeling walking out of the exam room having done an exam that was actually made up of questions I rather liked. I'm just hoping I did well enough to pass, but I won't find that out for about 6 weeks now.

To celebrate I took my Mum on a shopping trip to buy new house stuff and summer work clothes. We enjoyed a rather nice pizza lunch at pizza hut, before our little shopping spree. I treat myself to three new tops from Dorothy Perkins, I haven't yet tried them on to comment on how nice they are or how good they fit but I will do an update later.

(Apologies for the spacing, blogger didn't want to do what I wanted it to do)

We then had a little visit to Next for house stuff. I came home with a light for my hallway and 2 ultra soft cushions for my bedroom. However, it looks like my light may have to go back. Apparently buying a light is more complicated than just going into the shop finding one you like and buying it. You have to take into account all sorts of stuff like the type of fitting, whether it needs earthing etc. My advice if you're not electrical savvy like me....take someone light shopping who is. I'm going to ring the builder and check that the light will work so keeping my fingers crossed.

On our trip to Next we paid visit to the Next Home store on the Metro Centre retail park and got some lovely ideas for living room furniture and more lights. I found a ceiling light and a floor lamp that will go amazingly in my living room, but now I get the feeling I won't be able to have the ceiling light. Very disappointing.

Unfortunately that wasn't the only disappointment of the day, I ran out of my No7 Redness Relief moisturiser this morning which I absolutely loved using only to find that No7 has discontinued it. As a very pale skinned person who gets red cheeks very easily, this cream was amazing at keeping my skin one colour throughout the day and helping my makeup stay on. If anyone has any suggestions on a replacement, I'd gratefully appreciate it!

Overall a rather enjoyable day spent with my Mum, and I'm very glad my exam is over with. Now it's off to relax and prepare myself for returning back to work tomorrow. 

Weigh In - 5th May

My goal for the next few weeks at least (until after the 21st May) is to just maintain. My focus is on studying so my gym sessions will be cut down and I'll just have to be very careful with what I eat. This morning there was a 0.4lb increase on the scales, I'm not too bothered about that for now, just have to work on making sure there isn't another one next week.

I only managed dancing last week as I was either studying or out with work the other nights, this week I have no dancing so going to attempt at least one good session at the gym to make up for it.

I'm going to review my ab videos tomorrow and do some sort of routine a few nights a week just so I don't loose this strength I've managed to build through April.

100 Happy Days...Day 70

Day 70 - Shopping for house stuffs

As today is a non-work day, I took that to mean it was also a non-study day. Instead I dragged my parents round the industrial estates looking at curtains and cushions. Unfortunately I didn't quite find what I wanted, but I have a good idea. So excited, this house can't come soon enough.

April Monthly Round-Up

So it's a few days late, but here's my April monthly round-up.

Goal Number 1 - Complete the operational level of my CIMA qualification

I'm now only 18 days away from my next exam (wow, is that all?!), meaning that for the next 18 days my life is largely going to resolve around revising. I have a practice exam day on the 12th May which I'm hoping will be a major help in my revision steps. I'm feeling relatively alright about the prospect of sitting my exam but we'll see how it goes on the day.

Goal Number 2 - Move into my own home

So my flat is now the next in line to get the roof put on, and the aim is still for a move in date at the end of June. My focus is now on buying bedroom curtains ready for move in day, and then just big stuff like Fridge/Freezer and washing machine. I'm so excited.

Goal Number 3 - Loose a stone in weight

April wasn't a great month what with Easter giving me chocolate and me not being very well, so I didn't get any closer to my target. I managed an 8 minute run, the longest I've done all year, non-stop in my cardio routine, so I just need to keep going on that and soon I'll be seeing more progress.

I started the 30 day abs, squat and plank challenge at the beginning of the month, but as I seemed to loose my ability to properly do a plan I only ended up completing the abs and squat one. The progress across the 30 days was amazing, my tummy is a lot flatter than it used to be and my core strength so much better than it was. Now the challenge is over, I don't want to loose all my progress so I'm going to try a few different abs exercises each night. Taking some of the ideas from these two Youtube videos I've found to give me some variety.

 

Goal Number 4 - Get my splits on both legs

I'm still so close and keep trying to push myself that extra step. I'm going to try a few more exercises on my theraband to help my get that little bit further in time for my dance show.

Goal Number 5 - Learn to cook

I managed to make some chocolate coconut cupcakes (which weren't very healthy) and then a chicken and chorizo bake, and a beef casserole all from my new cook book. The results were rather good and I'll definitely be trying them again.

Plan for May

May's goal is to focus on passing my exam, and not put weight on in the mean time. I'm going to watch what I eat, and still aim to do at least one workout a week so I don't loose the progress I've made. I'm going to keep up with some ab exercises and stretch as much as I can so I'm in a good position for the dance show at the end of June.

Weight In - 7th April

Unfortunately today was another maintain week. But I can't say I'm surprised. I've been ill since the middle of last week so I've not been very motivated to push myself. I've been completing my 30 day challenges and do think they are making a difference, my stomach seems to be getting a bit flatter but I'm not sure if that's genuine or my imagination. Other than that though my working out hasn't been very strenuous.

Thankfully I've managed to keep eating throughout this illness and all I've been craving has been healthy. I've eaten lots of fruit and good meals. I suppose this has definitely helped me with my maintaining this week.

I was hoping to be back at the gym tomorrow but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen now. I woke feeling good this morning but by the time I got to work I was in serious pain and ended up ringing for a doctors appointment. Off there tomorrow for a checkup. It's nothing serious, just an infection but hopefully the doctor will give me something to stop the pain.

Hopefully to make up for my lack of exercising, I'll be doing 2 hours of dance rehearsal on Wednesday night.

100 Happy Days - Day 42

Getting house decoration inspiration. My mum's House Beautiful magazine came and having a quick flick has given me a few more ideas to work with. June can't come quick enough.

100 Happy Days...Day 3

Day 3 - Buying stuff for my new home

Buying my only home is definitely going to be my biggest achievement this year but as it's a new build it's taking ages to be ready. To keep myself excited I keep buying the little things I need and today's new purchase was my microwave. I've been eyeing up this microwave for ages but since it was on offer this week I couldn't turn it down. Can't wait to be in and finally able to use it!