lately

Guys, seriously, when did it become December and two weeks until Christmas?!

I feel like I've been running around headless for a few weeks, with not all that much to report, but on the off chance you're interested, here's what I've been doing of late, as the title suggests.....

As you know from my last post we've had snow here and freezing temperatures - this was my garden last week:

I think Big Ben (my lemon tree) has lost all his lemons now!

The snow has now melted and we've had balmy temperatures of 5 and 7 degrees this weekend!  That has not stopped me coming down with the sniffles though! 

We've now put up our little Christmas tree:

Check out "Fat Santa" (as Tom calls him) at the top!  I got him at a Christmas market in Brussels 2 years ago

I've been cleaning out my wardrobe and putting away all my summer clothes (sniff) - completely impractical to have them out, taking up space when I have enough trouble finding clothes to wear in the morning as it is!  But while I was cleaning out I found this old favourite that a kind reader had reminded me of the other day:

Just for you Lindy!  Yes, I still have it :) 

I also have a new top, to wear with my new green gloves that a kind friend from Hobart knitted for me and sent over:

Most fitting! Heh heh.

And on Wednesday last week I got a huge surprise when my brand new DUO boots showed up!  I've had these on order for nearly two months.  No pic yet but they are beautiful and very comfortable.  I'd forgotten how invaluable a good pair of boots are in the winter.  They are my Christmas present to myself! ;) 

Fitness wise?  Ashtanga yoga once a week, which has been my lifesaver.  I have asked for a Manduka yoga mat for Christmas (fingers crossed I get it, I'm still using my turquoise mat I picked up in Toronto all those years ago which has now worn thin...and has some sharp bits in it!)  Been trying to run as often as possible, which is harder in this weather - had a really good 4km run along the river just after the big snowfall.  It felt wonderful being out in the freezing air, which encourages me to run harder and faster.  I've been working on my speed since the 5k a few weeks ago.  My aim over the winter is to do one 5k and one 10k a week.  We'll see how that pans out!  Otherwise, I walk to and from work every day which is keeping me fit and keeps the jeans loose.  I love walking especially in the mornings, when I arrive at work with freezing pink cheeks and bright eyes.  It really sets me up for the day!

I also did my first ever Pilates class last week, thanks to Sweaty Betty, who had a GetFit4Free workshop that I had been put on the waiting list for.  It's always worth signing up for these things, you never know when they'll come through.  I did a run to the store, and then settled in for an hour and half Pilates masterclass with Olympian Toby Garbett.  It surprised me how different it was to yoga, and such a great workout for the core!  I was sore for a few days.  We also got a free goodie bag with a towel, Pilates band and water.  

Do any of you do Pilates? All I could think about on the way there was that line from Kath and Kim - "Pilates? Puh-leez." :)  I'd be interested in trying a few more classes and seeing how I go. 

Food?  The garden of winter delights is blooming madly in my kitchen.  We've had all manner of delicious things, and manage to keep it healthy at the same time.  Behold:

 This has got to be the quickest dinner ever.  Miso broth with noodles and vegetables.  Add lots of flu flighting ginger, garlic and chilli and you've got yourself a winter winner!

 Spicy bean pasta sauce.  Love those legumes!

 Pasta puttanesca, I embraced my inner Nigella here.  I am a huge fan of pasta sauces that don't require any cheese on top and believe me when I say this does not need cheese at all!

I am also loving a curried parsnip soup not dissimilar to my mate Suburban Yogini's .  My skinny husband needs a fatal dose of carbs with every meal so we add a few cups of wild rice or red rice to the soup which helps with the fill factor for him!  

There's also been a lot of lentil & vegetable pies, moroccan style vegetable stews, curries with the last dregs of my various Patak's jars, roast tomato soups, and a wonderful braised cabbage and veggie sausage stew that I serve with mustard mash.  Oh, I love wintry food!

Breakfasts have been a tiny bit challenging, but not since I called my trusty work canteen into service.  When I arrive at work after my cheek tingling 50 minute walk in, I march down to the cafeteria and get myself a bowl of hot porridge for 30p.  That's right, 30p!  I keep fruit and yoghurt in the fridge in my office, and so when I arrive at my desk and wait for the computer to fire up, I get busy adding yoghurt and various fruits (I have been adding apricots, banana and dried mango recently) to make a delicious, healthy and filling breakfast.  When I have porridge for breakfast, the stomach rarely starts rumbling until about 1pm! 

Otherwise, apart from writing blog posts that I then change my mind about posting, I've just been plugging away at my book (hit 71,000 words tonight) and doing a few social Christmas things, like this cupcake decorating class Ali organised:

 The unadorned cupcakes!  And the hand wash - which I wish I had used before I started work on my sugar dough.  How was I to know that there was still some foundation on them?! Needless to say my bow tie got chucked!

 A cupcake shaped sugar dough ornament I made - a big improvement on the bow tie! 

 Ali handles the piping bag with a flourish

 My finished collection of cupcakes!  

Candy cane! 

It will be a busy, fun-filled couple of weeks but then we're looking forward to a quiet, relaxed family Christmas out in the country with Tom's family.  It will be lovely to get out of the city and recharge, breath in some fresh air and have some time to think about the upcoming year.  Lots of exciting things ahead, hopefully, for Mr and Mrs Latte :)

Anyway, hope you're all well and keeping warm or cool, depending what part of the world you're in.  Now, I will go back to my mug of whisky in an attempt to ward off this beastly cold......

More soon! xx