Swapsies

Anyone out there got some good food tips?

Here's the place to share it this weekend.

We all have points when losing weight, where we get peckish. Where we want just a little nibble on something. Living with 3 kids is hard. My cupboards are stacked with crisps, biscuits, chocolate and I have to almost fight a daily battle of resistance. However, I have found some satisfying food swaps that combat the cravings.

1) Crisps - Eating 2 bread sticks give me the salty savoury sense I get from crisps. They take about the same time to eat and whilst neither crisps nor breadsticks are particularly filling, it doesn't feel such a waste of calories.

The average bag of crisps = 100-160 cals.
2 breadsticks = 40 cals.

2) Something sweet - Instead of reaching for the chocolate I treat myself to a couple of dessert spoons of my favourite cereal. I am eating a banana for breakfast every day at the moment since I realised how high in sugar and carbs my cereal was. I buy a supermarkets oat cluster, honey, nut and raisin granola style cereal and a small bowl without milk equates to 240cals. Now, I am a girl who likes a big bowl of cereal and I don't want the majority of my sugar for the day to come from an early morning meal so realistically, without milk I would be looking at 400-500cals for my cereal. I get a fast and satisfactory sweet snack for around 50cals. Half that of a small chocolate bar or chocolate digestive.

Bowl of oat cereal = 250cal (small.)
Small chocolate bar/Chocolate biscuit = 100cals
2 dessert spoons as sweet snack = 50cals.

These sound small savings but if you find you snack on either or both of these a couple of times a day, it soon adds up.

I have tried more fruit but I don't like many fruits. Those I do work out to be expensive and with a family budget we cannot afford too many luxuries so I look for cheaper easily attainable replacements instead.

I rarely drink alcohol. If I do I go for diet mixers rather than full fat mixer with a spirit saving around 50cals per glass. Over the course of a night that adds up.

These little alterations have got me down 14lbs in 6 weeks.

I have been far from angelic with the diet, I eat out, I drink alcohol, sometimes both in the same night so all good will goes out the window but I am not giving up on enjoying life to be a few lbs smaller.

I aim to lose another 14lbs by the time my wedding anniversary comes round.

I have 7.5 weeks for that so I am hoping to be a size smaller and back to feeling as happy and confident as I was on my wedding day last year.

So they are my little tips and aspirations for the next few weeks, what are yours?

It Wasn't So Bad After All

The first driving lesson went rather well. I wasn't as nervous as I expected to be and I did feel comfortable with the instructor which is always a very good thing.

I found some things easier to do than others. I had a 2 hour lesson since it was my first and spent the first hour being given a talk about the car and some simple instructions.

When I did get to go on the road myself, I didn't expect to have to cross a roundabout so early in my lessons. I even got to drive round it 4 times trying to get the hang of "feeding" the steering wheel but got myself all flustered.

He said I did very very well with foot control. gear changes and clutch control which was what I most feared so that's given me a little confidence.

I drove along the local roads and through 2 villages before heading back along the local bypass - Not only did I not expect to be doing a roundabout on my first lesson, I wasn't expecting to be on a main road doing over 50mph either.

So, I've booked another 2 hour lesson for next Thursday. The steering needs to be worked on but I see what I am doing wrong, I understand where my mistakes are so I am going to go back and give it my best. I am determined to get there. Also, whilst on the subject, I got confirmation through for my theory test on July 19th. Blimey, that really isn't far off is it? Scarily it's 3 days before the start of the school summer holidays. Help!

Shortly after my first lesson I had my eyes tested. Whilst they were not as bad as I thought they may have been they did highly reccommend that I wear glasses for driving. So I got a nice little pair ordered and will be collecting them next Wednesday before my next lesson. 

We also had a lovely weekend. Hubby and I got the kids looked after Saturday night and went out for the evening into the village.We had a lovely Indian meal. We have two Indian restaurants in the village, one we always use for takeaways and have been in a couple of times but we chose the second one to give it a go. It was just as nice, I couldn't say if it was any better than the other since I really love all Indian food. We had a fair few drinks and spent a little time in the pub where my friend Kate works so it was a lovely evening overall.

Sunday I was worn out from the late night and the normal waking up time to look after the boys. This resulted in around 4 hours sleep. We took a trip into Colchester then thought we would take the kids to the beach as it was such a lovely day. Once we got there we realised the coast was overcast and misty. We still had a lovely day wandering around the town, the new funfair and the pier and as we made it back to the car, the sun came out. Typical. But it was a lovely fun packed weekend.

Saturday morning was the start of a new era. James now has a car bed to rival Liams so my house is officially cot-free. My babies are in (toddler) beds 100%.My babies are officially big boys. Once the nappies are finished then I have 3 boys/3 children rather than the "little people" tags they get. Awwww. I love them all to bits.

Countdown To D-Day

Monday is set to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Trust me to have the day booked out!

I have a two hour driving lesson - my first one so.......Eek!!!!

That is swiftly followed by an eye test.

Whilst I wouldn't say my sight is bad, I just wouldn't say I am good at reading things far off either.

Hubby and I were in the car last week and getting me prepared for learning about the road we were looking at number plates. Whilst I don't know the distance I should be able to read them at I don't know if I am seeing them as well as I could. I find the letters blur a little and I easily get stuck on Ms and Ws as they look similar, I also struggle with Vs and Ys. We were also moving at the time and that may have made it harder. So I thought it wouldn't hurt to get my eyes looked at as I wouldn't be surprised if I'm short sighted. If it makes driving easier for me to have glasses then so be it.

I have also booked my theory test for July 19th. I'm confident with the computer programme my hubby bought me to learn from so I have almost 4 weeks to keep learning. The online test would have passed me several times this week, I just need to keep my nerve, read the questions properly and do my best.

Wish me luck -as well as all those on the roads (and pavements) on Monday!

Also, I recieved my smear test results last Saturday. All looking good and now I go annually rather than 6 monthly.

Trying To Impress

In the last 4 weeks, I have lost 4lbs. My weight has been up and down like nobody's business but the point is, since 20th May when I last updated on a weight, I am weighing in less than I was then so I suppose it isnt all bad.

Everytime I fail or put on weight I am spurred by the fact I'm not going to let myself get bigger. I lose a few lbs then get complacent, eat more and put on a couple more lbs having to work harder and begin again so my weight seems to level out at a certain point with no real direction.

Does anyone else get in bad cycles like this or is it just me?

My weight always goes onto my hips and backside too so I am not happy that I resemble a small rhinocerous from behind.

According to my scales, I have lost 12lbs or 5.5kgs since my last contraptive injection so with around 6 weeks until the next one, I would like to make it up to 10kgs since thats the modern way with the nurse.

I can't believe I am putting my determination for this month down to impressing a nurse!

I feel better when I weigh less. I'm around 14lb more than I was when I married last year. In my head I had planned on being around 50-60lbs lighter by now but it hasnt worked that way so I know I need to try harder. As long as I end the year lighter than I began, it will be a victory.

Home Improvements. Photo Entry.

The house is lovely and quiet. All I can hear is the slight buzz of the pc and the washing machine doing it's work.The boys are on thier naps and I am just getting a quick entry in before I get back to the rest of the old housework.

Our living room has undergone a bit of a transformation in recent weeks. I will be posting the newest  pictures very soon but I can manage a couple of before and after.

We've just got 2 new sofas, some new cushions, a new computer table for when we recieve our wireless dongle and we can rearrange the room a tad more. The little boys have little armchairs of their own and our bookshelves have been completed by the addition of doors to make it look tidier and complete. We are so close to finishing this room now.

This is how our living room looked when we moved in last May.

And here it is now.The left hand side of that wall is no longer plain and a big recess. The bookshelves fill it. With the doors, it looks more of a unit. We will continue these the other side of the wall in the other recess once we have sorted out the re-homing of the pc. You can just about make out the tv on the wall on the far right of the picture. The computer is currently where it is in the first pic but will be moving to the opposite corner of the room as soon as.

The kitchen was originally cream.

We painted it pink but didn't like it. So a couple of months ago we painted it blue and lemon. Here's the view of the dining area of the kitchen as it is now.

The whole wall shown in the upper picture is blue, so its only the wall on the right that is yellow but we liked the contrast.

Finally, we have almost completed the bedroom. We still need a second coat of paint on the walls but we purchased some new bedding that fits my style perfectly. Oh and to top it off, I put my wedding flowers in the picture.

However, despite having 3 1/2 rooms to how we want them. (Hubby still isn't 100% happy with the bathroom but I think it's fine) having a house is always a work in progress.

The youngest two still need thier bedroom decorated and we are looking for a high sleeper for Matthew so he has more storage and more room for himself. We will get there with upstairs at some point but I am very happy with the main areas of the house and even the seeds we planted out the front of the house appear to be thriving and will hopefully give us a lovely white flower bed out the front by the time full summer is here.

Career Beyond Motherhood?

Yesterday I took James along to an open day at the school nursery where he will be starting in January. He absolutely loved it.

As much as he loves the pre-school he goes to now, this place is double the size and has twice as much for him to do. Liam also loved running around and joining in. They loved the sand and water tables, playing outside. Liam just enjoyed the freedom and a chance to run about playing with new toys. James made a fathers day card, helped make fairy cakes by getting in and stirring the ingredients as they all took it in turns at having a go. This nursery is a little more educational based than the one he goes to at present but it's all in preparation for the following year. It was great and I do think that he will love it there. Liam certainly would if he was old enough.

Being only 10.5 months between them, Liam really does not see himself as the younger brother. He wants to and does do everything James does and on the odd occassion he can't he really does get frustrated and upset with the world. He has a little temper on him too but it's how he expresses those feelings as best as he can.

Seeing all the 3-5 year olds in the classroom (it's nursery and reception mixed) made me feel all warm inside. One little boy asked me a couple of times if he could have a snack and was a little upset that his friend didn't want to play his game. He wanted to play something else. I was torn between thinking of  possible futures working in a school. One where I can work part time as a parent helper and help the children do small things, play and just be there for them. I could also go into higher classes as a parent helper and listen to children in years 1 & 2 read. Then I began thinking a little more about being in the classroom.

Would I like to be a TA? (Teaching Assistant)

It's 3 years before the children will be in full time education so I could start training for qualifications in my spare time and study from home. From Jan 2013 when Liam begins, I can help out in class and get some general experience.

I should be driving by then so hopefully I can get to any school to work and I wouldn't have to be restricted to our one village school.

I think I should have  a good old chat with my mother in law. She's suggested it before as she thinks I would do well working with children and being a teacher knows what I should be doing to looking at it as a future career.

It's like life is coming back full circle.

When I was little, I wanted to be a nurse or a teacher.

When I left school I was going to do a nursery nurse course, but it never happened. I got a job at the last minute instead as I was working part time on a good wage and would miss the money being a student. I always loved children and wanted to work with them. Now seems to be the right time to really start thinking of my future.

I would be happy working in a shop but I want to give something back to someone else.

A childs education is one of the most important things in it's life and if I could make the smallest of differences, it would be great.

I would even be prepared for further training to work with special needs or disabled children should there be a school for them nearby.

Of course, it's also practical to have holidays at the same time as my kids and the hours are more mother-child friendly than being an actual teacher. But there's nothing to stop me further training in the future should I want to go into teaching at a later date.

Watch this space.

Check This Out

Does anyone have a spare £3.5MILLION ($5.6m)  floating around?

If so, we could be virtually neighbours and I can come round to your beautiful house for coffee from time to time.

This gorgeous house is on the market complete with 14.5 acres and equestrian facilities. So who's moving in and when can I visit?


Browse the house here: Westgate Park, Long Melford

It is a family home!

Stunning hey? English heritage at it's best and less than 5 minutes drive from my house!

Speaking of driving, my provisional license came through the post today. I am more excited about it than I thought I would be. In fact, I don't have any fear at all at the moment. Now to find out when hubby is off work so I can book my first driving lesson. I have a school in mind but theres no point in contacting them before I know when I am available.

Superstitious? Moi?

Yesterday was the 13th.

I had my second cervical smear test of the year.

It was around this time last year I got the bad test results.

I should hear how it all went in about a weeks time.

If successful I think I only have next year of bi-annual testing then it cuts down to once a year for the next 8 years and then back to 3 years if all remains well in that time.

Fingers crossed for future health.