Friday 28 November 2014

Top 3 No Effort Home Workouts

I seem to be a process lover, opposed to an outcome lover. 

I will gladly bake a 5 hour recipe cake and eat none of it. But seriously, who turns down the opportunity to full-body cover themselves in flour (sivved) and get the free theraputic squidge of butter inbetween their fingers (Don't try this, butter doesn't seem to wash off)? 

The same applies when I want to do anything fitness related. It takes so much self-motivation for me to get moving, but when I'm going, I really go. Like 98% full-speed-ahead go (2% knocked because of the 2 helpings I had earlier, again not listed among ideas that are good).

I love the steady improvement and development and the congratulatory buzz you get from doing excersize. Despite my willingness to get up and do anything active, I like to keep it fairly simple and I just want to be comfy when I'm doing it - no instructor, no equiptment, no money, not much time, very little effort. 

It's the weekend which means it's time to do really easy stuff and only eat things straight from the oven, preferably covered in maple syrup. Home workouts are a beautiful creation by the guy who created home workouts - a being I will continue to support. They open up a myriad of opportunities to watch TV whilst doing sit-ups. I still rank not having seen anyone at the gym watch TV whilst doing sit-ups as a missed opportunity and on my list of 10 things that probably will never be as comfy as they could be at home. 

I am so ready to blast anyone with the argument that you need more motivation to do home workouts because you have a pillow so near. TV and sit-ups. Food in the fridge. 

These are my top home workouts. Arms, Bottom, Thighs, Core.

Also, my Healthy Pinterest board is getting so much more love lately. 

Sunday 16 November 2014

Way Too Early Christmas Inspiration


So here's the dealio. 

This post started out indefinitely as Pinterest/tumblr inspiration and major tribute post. I don't think that was the way to go, and the Christmas fever caught me in a moment of serious vulnrability (I was drinking hot chocolate. It wasn't me.)

Pinterest, through November to January, is nothing more than a hive buzz of red and green sparkle. It's like a second home to me. I've been feeding off a Pinterest enthusiasm lately (holla to new wifi for supplementing the mindset).

Searching 'Christmas' on Pinterest opens up a miriad of possibilities and you feel, for just 5 seconds, that you actually might be able to conquer those veganized red velvet pancakes with cream cheese frosting stacked on a snowman plate. 

It's a short lived incentive.

Christmas is obviously the beginning and end of all festivities and holidays. 

There is no other answer. 

Easter? Wrong answer. Pancake Tuesday? So wrong. Halloween? Not even close. 

Christmas makes Holiday Peppermint Cream Puffs have a place in society. Christmas gives making a pizza in the shape of a snowman some sense, and puts those Christmas haters in their place (because cinnamon applesauce biscuit tree ornaments have come to town). 

I don't think there is such a thing as Christmas hater. 

That would be ridiculous, seriously.


Ps. I think it would give everyone so many wins if you follwed me on Pinterest.
Pps. Probably just on everything else too. twitter instagram 

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Tartan Trendspiration. Autumn


This has been a trend I have been seriously grooving to, deep in the tune. I have done my research and stolen as many skirts as would fit into my drawers from my sister. Borrowed on a whim. A whim to not pay a gazillion pounds from Ubran Outfitters. 

I have gotten quite attached to the collection now. Although they are all a little on the skimpish small side. Tartan.

I doubt she has yet noticed. 


I love how tartan can either look grungy, or classy. Super soft-grunge (Mom. I'm all soft-grunge now.) or ultra school-girl chic. I love how they are the absolute feature piece of any outfit, and can be paired with simple minimalistic extras.

In other news, tonight was the night I had free time and a decent idea for a blog post, yet no photos to actually use. Let us vaguely examine the ridicule that tonight has been. 

fyi

Should we talk about the last season-ending episode of Downton Abbey?
No?
Right. I wasn't emotionally stable enough to go there yet either.


Ps. This is my 100th post. Don't go back to the beginning. It's really not nice down there.


Monday 10 November 2014

A Christmas Kinda' Red



Winter undeniably does have it's benefits. Other than hosting the obvious best time of year, Christmas - and need I really say more - winter is finally cold enough to let me wear my annual pinafore. 

Annual because I wait the best part of all year round to wear this cherry red corduroy pinafore. I feel quite partial to a bit of corduroy lately. And I have definitely been loving me a large bit polo necks (see: this, this, definitely this, probably this too.)

Corduroy just happens to be so wintery and textured - which we all know is the greatest mark of living fashion.

Everyone thinks they need a little black dress. Everyone happens to be so very confused. What everyone really needs is a LRD, little red dress (you know the one). Why is red such a shyed away from colour. Wearing red gives you more confidence than Kanye and gives you all the extra sparkle needed when doing that crazy shoulder bop to Destiny's Child.

On a side note: I have discovered the snazziest French artist, Stromae. His music is seriously rocking out at the top of most played songs on my playlist. Everything has a artsy cool vibe and his videos are way better than anything Arianna Grande. It happens to be very hard to avoid anything Arianna Grande nowadays. 

Saturday 8 November 2014

Black Tartan Dreamin'


I'm currently swimming in a pool of sad and lonely regret. I think it might just possibly be time to let go of autumn but winters not yet here. Seriously though, let's go over this. Why would anyone enjoy the not-quite-anything period between autumn and winter. I mean, it doesn't even snow. 

A polo neck sweatshirt is all you ever need in autumn... and winter. It is the crazy nicest feeling to have warm hugs going on all over the neck regions; and polonecks just seem to work up real magic with every outfit thrown at them - all seasons round. They have a bit of a bad reputation, insane really, and I have no idea why someone wouldn't want warm hugs around their neck.

With the Christmas stretch coming up and with it the annual family photo; you may seriously want to consider investing in one. Also you could just wear it every day from September to April. Don't deny this infatuation. 

Thursday 6 November 2014

Getting through Friday.


The Internet has been buzzing this week. Tomorrow I offered myself back up for torment by pen and paper. I'm back at school. There are plenty of mixed emotions going on at the moment - potentially getting more 'Give me the cocoa', than 'Let's go'. This week has been filled with many a snooze. I am really attempting to stock up on hibernating energy to use up at a later stage. Let's make this Sunday a last sigh of relief. 


Here are some links to get us through that train journey... beats akward eye contact. 

I'm 100% sure I have mentioned Justina, from A Bent Piece of Wire, before. Here. Major fashion wins. 

Ellie's Favourite Things. Another hands-down perfect blog read. So much fashion inspiration and love heading that way.

Midi rings have been a serious late-comer into my life. I feel like they have been very 'in' for a while now. Still, they are currently reigning supreme on my hands and in the autumnal forte. 

Manchester will always be there for me. I highly depend on the city buzz and on Instagram to document my spendings. In short: follow my Instagram

Joy, from Joy the Baker, is another must-read. I enjoyed a pleasant binge reading session this week, catching up on permisson and bourbon filled recipes.

I have recently discovered ASOS' Personal Stylists. Go fashion stalk them. @asos_megan/@meganellaby wears a mean jumpsuit. 


Pinterest sprees have re-entered my social calender. I happen to be terribly sociable. Has there ever been a boring Pinterest session? I think no.

There is now a Wizarding world inspired hotel in London. There is now also a perfect opportunity to scream, jump for joy, fangirl away and realise that it costs £200 per night. "the rooms feature four-poster beds, trunks emblazoned with Harry Potter's initials, cauldrons, candles, potion bottles, and assorted gothic touches that evoke the Hogwarts spirit." Fact.



Sunday 2 November 2014

Casual Boot + Dress Action // Autumn


Is it too late to don this coming month as autumn? 

I now officially need gloves at every outdoor (and indoor) event and my feet are asking more and more for the thicker knitted socks. 

Enough chit to the chat, this 'autumn' - I'm still clinging on - has brought us plenty of over-knee boot action, the whole 'art student' edit and autumn without tweed is just simply a crime. It's been a while since I perused the deeper depths of my wardrobe, pulling out my Joules striped smock/tunic/shift (what is it?) dress. So many wins! 

It's not every day you find a dress that deserves a standalone rave but this is just so comfy, easy to wear, seasonal and clean cut. I love the dusky blue which completely rocks out in both winter and summer, paired with the clear white.