Flash Back Friday: Romantic Student Break

I am really loving this idea of Karin's and hope I can keep on joining in! Today I have to show a snap I've taken of adjacent pictures in my photo album from 1991:

The occasion of the joint photos was my first ever romantic break away with a boyfriend! For some reason we had detoured to Iron Bridge on our way to have a day at Alton Towers... Being a pair of equally impoverished students we were taking turns at paying for our accommodation and it fell to me to book a B&B via the Tourist Office. At the time my surname was Jones and when we arrived at the B&B the owner said she had expected us to arrive under cover of darkness as she thought it was a cover name! I was only 20 at the time so it was embarrassing enough having my first double room booking without such a comment....

Fitness Friday - Week 10

Spring must definitely having a good effect on my motivation as when I stepped on the scales at class yesterday I had lost 2 lbs! This is now over 1.5 stone since I began in the Autumn with nearly a stone just since I signed up for Fitness Friday in January. I thought it would a good time to test the Inch Loss side of the Rosemary Conley plan. When I started I was given a magic measure and I dutifully measured all the key body parts and clipped the tags on. Today I remeasured and I have lost a total of 21 inches across my body with an amazing 5 from my waist alone. So what did I do this week:

Diet

The kids went back to school on Monday so it was an end to the non-stop snacking of the holidays. I was able to take my time to choose the healthy options and stick to my calorie allowance. If I have a large lunch I can compensate with a salad only tea.

Exercise

The Wii was turned back on at the weekend and I've done quite a few Tough Just Dance 2 sessions. I also finally got my eBay bargain My Personal Fitness Trainer out of its cellophane and set it up. After about 20 minutes of entering all my measurements it gave me my first targeted workout. So far I've done 2 upper body and 1 lower body workout. I have to admit that the morning after a 30 minute leg workout I found it hard walking upstairs... At my class I was back to the top level of exercise and it feels good to have a vigorous cardio routine.

Reasons to be Cheerful VI

Not sure if the signs of Spring and all the new life and blue skies but it's certainly easier to find 3 reasons to be cheerful for Michelle's blog hop! For her post click on the logo, for everyone else check out the blog hop at the end.

1) People are starting to comment more and more about how much slimmer I look! So I not only have the proof of the scales and the looser clothes but out of the mouths of other people. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how I did this week ;-)


2) Today I had confirmation of the dates I am going with my kids and mum for our prize 3 night break in Mallorca! We will be flying off in a couple of months time - I am going to gloss over the fact that we have to be at Leeds-Bradford airport in time to catch a 7 AM flight... Can't wait to have my children experience their first ever flight and first trip out of the country (I haven't done either since my honeymoon in 2002!)


3) As I said in my intro it really does feel like Spring is on its way which makes me feel all positive and full of beans! The snow drops and croci are almost being replaced by daffodils as you can see the plants getting ready to flower. Around us in Kendal there are increasing numbers of little lambs enjoying the sunshine. This week it has even been good enough to take the kids to the playground after school. It may not last but it really has given me a boost...


What is making you feel cheerful this week? Write a post then join in the blog hop:

The Gallery: Simple Pleasures

A nice challenge from Tara this week who wants to know our simple pleasures. Being a single mum I have to grab mine when I can:

I think the motto on the Emma Bridgewater mug really sums it up for me! Aside from my lovely kids that is ;-)

Thrifty Tuesday

As a single parent I am now really feeling the pinch of a much reduced household income plus having to responsibility for all household outgoings. Unfortunately I've not been able to earn much recently and a lack of maintenance payments means I am coping on state benefits which aren't designed to fund a lavish lifestyle. So I am having to learn how to live a more thrifty life (not always successfully!) here are few ideas about how to make sure income isn't outstripped by expenditure.


Know what is coming in/out and when


I have written on the calendar when my various benefits and credits come in. Some are weekly, some fortnightly and some 4 weekly which makes life more complicated! Alongside these I have put when the bills and direct debits are paid. This way I don't get caught out and always have enough in my account to pay them. As the biggest expense is rent I have to make sure that I keep the Housing Benefit in the eSavings bit of my online account until the night before its due. That way it can't get taken up by anything else.


Planning ahead


With the help of my children we try and menu plan for the week ahead based upon what is on their schedules. This means that I can create an online supermarket order using this plan and what we have in the cupboards/freezer/fridge. If we are going to be out and about taking a snack pack with us saves on expensive emergency food/drink buys.


Planning ahead can also apply to travel and days out. Booking up to 12 weeks in advance can save a fortune in train tickets. Some attractions offer discounts if you book online before the day of your visit. Other places offer cheaper prices on certain days so its worth checking this out well in advance.