tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90529124185109055272012-02-08T14:54:49.360ZSkinny Latte Strikes Backphilippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.comBlogger4761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-46556236768445260592012-02-08T09:35:00.000Z2012-02-08T09:35:16.988Zi've been superethique'd!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCc1tCmfLVA/TzI-0WxI-OI/AAAAAAAADQ0/jANkozK0FQI/s1600/Superethique-Stacked-Logo-D-2.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCc1tCmfLVA/TzI-0WxI-OI/AAAAAAAADQ0/jANkozK0FQI/s1600/Superethique-Stacked-Logo-D-2.01.jpg" /></a></div><br />Well, good morning! Another announcement for you today. I've joined the team over at <a href="http://superethique.com/">Superéthique</a> and I couldn't be more excited!<br /><br />Superéthique is an online publication run by a Melbourne based team of inspiring and passionate women (now including me!) with a growing national and international focus, which promotes and celebrates ethical products and the companies behind them who are doing amazing things to change how things are produced, sold and consumed. It's fast becoming <i>the</i> go-to resource for people who want to know more about ethical and sustainable brands, products and services. The Superéthique team are 100% passionate about showing you how easy it is to have a wholly sustainable, eco-friendly and ethical lifestyle without compromising on looks, taste, quality or values.<br /><br />When you think about it, the same principles apply to a healthy lifestyle overhaul, give or take. It's not just about pursuing "alternatives" - which can sometimes make you feel like you're missing out or skimping on something. Anything but. It's about making a healthier and more active lifestyle a reality. In other words, making permanent changes to the way you do things. And it takes time for the changes you make and believe in to actually sink in and become a part of your lifestyle. You do sometimes have to do a bit of research, a bit of legwork, and occasionally stir up the nerve to toss out some old, preconceived ideas. But that's part of the fun. And an added bonus - you feel pretty great while you're doing it too. Win win :)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDC95kMhjwc/TzI9Ha7fDfI/AAAAAAAADQk/rszN1-1cpho/s1600/groceries_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDC95kMhjwc/TzI9Ha7fDfI/AAAAAAAADQk/rszN1-1cpho/s320/groceries_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recent haul of organic grocery shopping in Melbourne</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Superéthique tries to take some of the guesswork out of being an informed and discerning consumer. It's not about bombarding people with depressing facts and stats; it's about celebrating the amazing products and services that are already out there so you can feel good about the choices you make and where your money is actually going.<br /><br />So do pop over to <a href="http://superethique.com/">Superéthique</a> and check out <a href="http://superethique.com/2012/02/08/my-name-is-philippa-but-you-can-call-me-phil-2/">my first post</a> - I think you'll love their work as much as I do!<br /><br />I'll be writing for them regularly and am keen to help showcase businesses and brands in the UK and Europe who are doing wonderful work in creating high quality ethical products and services. If you're one of them, then let me know!<br /><br />I'm looking forward to sharing some stories and discoveries there as I travel further down the road to a more sustainable, more consciously lived life. <br /><br />You'd be surprised how easy it is to be good :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-4655623676844526059?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-15182560108760894332012-02-07T08:00:00.008Z2012-02-07T08:00:09.920Zphil's greatest hits! instalment one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRLW13Zlhx4/Ts48TX-vVEI/AAAAAAAADLk/ujfMe7kURd4/s1600/Podcasts-Design-2b-%2528FINAL%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRLW13Zlhx4/Ts48TX-vVEI/AAAAAAAADLk/ujfMe7kURd4/s400/Podcasts-Design-2b-%2528FINAL%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Morning!<br /><br />I have two little announcements for you today - the first is that the Skinny Latte Strikes Back podcasts are now available on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/skinnylatte/id500117584">iTunes</a>! Having put it off for ages, fearing it was going to be incredibly difficult and cumbersome, I can't believe how straightforward it actually turned out to be. A good lesson there, really! I hope you enjoy having the whole catalogue there for easy download on to your iDevice.<br /><br />Secondly, I've decided to have a bit of fun and turn some of my favourite blog posts on here into podcasts. Hence, the launch of <b>Phil's Greatest Hits </b>:)<br /><br />The first in the series is one of my very favourites, <i><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/02/phone-call-with-2005-phil.html">a phone call with 2005 Phil</a></i>. Who remembers that one? I imagined a phone conversation, where my present (February 2010) self rang my 2005 self, to break the news that she had had a salad for dinner when home alone. 2005 Phil was going to laugh in her face....or was she?<br /><br />Despite being slightly weirded out by hearing my own voice, talking to myself (!), it was really fun to do, and Tom did a brilliant job with the special effects! I hope you like it - it's just something a bit different. I love getting creative! :)<br /><br />The next two of <b>Phil's Greatest Hits</b> will be released over the next two weeks, and there will be more. Please let me know if there's a post you would like me to record for you to listen to. I'm just doing my own favourites at the moment, but I'd love to know what yours are.<br /><br />You can listen to <i><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/02/phone-call-with-2005-phil.html">a phone call with 2005 Phil</a></i> here:<br /><br /><div><br /><object align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,0,0" height="25" id="mp3playerdarksmallv3" width="210"></p><p><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /></p><p><param name="movie" value="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-audio-video-blog-player/mp3playerdarksmallv3.swf?audioPath=http://skinnylatte.podbean.com/mf/play/kdfvcn/Ep7_SLSB_2005Phil.mp3&autoStart=no" /></p><p><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></p><p><embed src="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-audio-video-blog-player/mp3playerdarksmallv3.swf?audioPath=http://skinnylatte.podbean.com/mf/play/kdfvcn/Ep7_SLSB_2005Phil.mp3&autoStart=no" quality="high" width="210" height="25" name="mp3playerdarksmallv3" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed></p><p></object><br /><a href="http://www.podbean.com/" style="border-bottom: none; color: #2da274; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 41px; text-decoration: none;">Podcast Powered By Podbean</a></div><br /><br />Or <a href="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-download?b=333183&f=http://skinnylatte.podbean.com/mf/web/kdfvcn/Ep7_SLSB_2005Phil.mp3">download</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Or on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/skinnylatte/id500117584">iTunes</a>!<br /><br />Happy listening :) xx<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1518256010876089433?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-38607219926099833442012-02-06T07:00:00.000Z2012-02-06T07:00:03.265Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691647_tp5SHpmK_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691647_tp5SHpmK_c.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/153755774747691647/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-3860721992609983344?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-84746471652694311602012-02-05T18:05:00.000Z2012-02-05T18:05:26.350Zno meat, no problem: endurance training & vegetarianism<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.coreperformance.com/images/411*308/vegetable+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://media.coreperformance.com/images/411*308/vegetable+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/nutrition/minerals.html">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A question I've had asked of me recently, by several dear readers, is how I managed to sustain my energy levels while training for the marathon last year, particularly on a vegetarian diet. Now that I'm back in training for my next half marathon, I've been thinking about eating for endurance again so I thought I'd put together a little guide about how I fuelled myself for <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/04/dial-m-for-marathon-race-report-virgin.html">the biggest race of my life</a> last year, what worked for me and what didn't. I hope you'll find it useful!<br /><br />I only took up long distance running in 2009, and by that time I had been eating a 99% vegetarian diet for two years. I had flirted with vegetarianism many times growing up, but it was always met with a bit of opposition, which made me uncomfortable. As you all know I was not a fan of being uncomfortable, so after maybe a month of vegetarian eating, I would usually revert back to eating meat to keep the peace and to keep other people happy. It was normal, acceptable, and familiar. And I really enjoyed a good steak. It was my favourite food for a while :)<br /><br />But after losing weight and getting fit and healthy, I had challenged an awful lot of my old behaviours, thoughts, patterns and habits, all of which I did purely because they were normal, acceptable and familiar to me. Everything was challenged. Slowly, but surely, everything in my life was going to come under the microscope, particularly as I grew more comfortable with myself and who I was, and wanting to live a life that was a bit more aligned with my values and beliefs, not just doing things to keep other people happy. <br /><br />The permanent change in my diet came in 2007 when I was visiting friends in Vancouver, Canada, who are passionate environmentalists. It was so inspiring to see them living their lives around their values and beliefs without being obsessive about it. We had many long discussions about the devastating effect the meat industry has on the environment, the chemicals and pesticides used, to say nothing of the inhumane practices and the energy that is used to grow grain to feed animals that are destined for slaughter. It struck me that it was all very well for me to have made changes to make my own life better, but what about the wider world? I was enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle, but what about my ethics and values? How was I living those? What did I stand for? If I was aware that there were food production practices that were harming the planet and that I didn’t agree with them….why was I still supporting them by giving them my money and consuming the product? I won't bombard you with the stats, but needless to say, I found it confronting and frightening, and it cemented my feeling that I wanted to be doing my bit, in whatever way I could.<br /><br />I left Vancouver realising that I had been vegetarian pretty much the entire time I had been there - apart from a Japadog with my friend Brianna! - and not missing meat at all, I thought I would give it a try. It was the start of a bigger effort on my part to live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle where I only take what I need, and am more mindful of what I consume, and how I consume it. It's been most complementary to my passion for conscious living as a whole. Five years later, and my habits and living practices have evolved with time, and I've not had a moment of regret or deprivation. In the beginning, I wanted to be flexible and not do anything that took away from my enjoyment of life - that might sound selfish to some people, but I saw no point in being a martyr about it. I'd had enough of guilt trips, doing things only to please others, to fit into a perceived paradigm, or because I "should" - I only wanted to do this if I wholeheartedly believed in it, and I do. And eating a primarily plant based diet has done wonders for my health - my skin and hair are better than I think they've ever been, I don't get colds as much, I hardly ever have tummy troubles any more, and I have far more energy. I just feel <b>good</b>. <br /><br />But the key has been being flexible. Although I keep a 100% vegetarian home, I have, on the odd occasion over the past five years, eaten some fish when I've been out and about, either when travelling overseas (it's amazing how many places in Europe are not vegetarian friendly!) or simply when it has just made life a bit easier. A piece of fish enjoyed consciously a couple of times a year is something I haven't made a big deal out of, but lately I have been phasing it out because I don't feel good about eating it any more. I've also cut down on dairy products, not because I don't love them (you know what a cheese fiend I am!) but I just felt the need recently for a rest from it. I've noticed far less bloating and sluggishness, my skin is brighter and I just feel better in general. The only animal product Tom and I currently eat is eggs, which we source locally from the <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/10/rent-hen-veggie-box-and-birthday-boy.html">Rent a Hen farm</a>. <br /><br />As I say, this is just what we're doing at the moment. I'm just listening to my body and trying to give it what it's asking for. It might want dairy products and fish again at some point in the future, and I'll see how I feel about that as and when. But labels really annoy me. They force people to define themselves within very rigid terms, which causes them to beat themselves up if something they eat doesn't fit within that definition, and that has never sat right with me. I think there are enough rules and regulations in life as it is, and most people are just trying to do their best and what is right for them, their lifestyles, their bodies, and the planet. What is right for one person might not be right for another. You can only follow your own path :) <br /><br />So, to get back to the topic, the only experience I had of endurance sport when I still ate meat was the triathlons. And to be honest, I look back at that period and just remember how tired I was all the time. I think back then my idea of what was healthy was a little bit warped. Albeit I was under my goal weight and certainly knew what a healthy diet looked like, but how often I actually put that into practice was anyone's guess. I ate well - I remember lots of tuna and vegetable pastas, lean steaks, avocado on toast, chicken stirfries, that kind of thing - but I don't think I ate enough for the kind of training I was doing (running, swimming and cycling - morning and evening!), and that reflected in my energy levels. I got by on pure adrenaline back in those days! But, in my defence, eating for endurance was all very new to me, because all I knew up to that point was how to eat to lose weight. It's not the same thing!<br /><br />And that's something that's important to sink in when you're training for something huge like a long distance race. You might lose a bit of weight while you train for it, because you'll be toning up and getting fitter and stronger, but if you want to <b>perform </b>at your best, and be able to keep running for hours and hours at a time, then you have to eat. You have to fuel yourself. <br /><br />That's not a green light to pig out, but you certainly don't want to under-eat or restrict yourself too much, because you will end up making yourself very ill. It all comes with time and experience, and learning how you best perform; discovering what foods make you feel amazing while you train and race, and which ones don't; which foods give you lots of energy, and which ones leave you running on empty. It's fun! Just do it in advance of your event so you know what will work for you and what won't, and you won't get any nasty surprises on race day!<br /><br />I think regardless of whether you are vegetarian or not, moving away from highly processed foods and fuelling yourself with more natural foods, that your body can process better, is the way to go, particularly if you're an athlete!<br /><br />This was a typical day's eating for me while I was marathon training:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hXVhp5SeBw/Ty6ginS9DuI/AAAAAAAADQU/xNO8YF4dcXE/s1600/marathonfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hXVhp5SeBw/Ty6ginS9DuI/AAAAAAAADQU/xNO8YF4dcXE/s400/marathonfood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>The night before:</b> A meal I knew my body could run well on! Such as: pasta with <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/11/step-by-step-sunday-spag-bol.html">Sunday night spag bol</a> sauce (no or very little cheese); <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/03/dhal-ling.html">carrot and spinach dhal</a> with a baked potato; <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/03/my-favourite-ingredient.html">grilled vegetable risotto</a>; chickpea curry and brown rice; wholegrain penne with pesto; or <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/03/marathon-minestrone.html">marathon minestrone soup</a> packed with beans and pasta.<br /><br /><b>Pre run while dressing & waking up (!): </b> 1 bottle Lucozade Body Fuel (made from powder and water); if hungry, a few bites of banana or a few Lucozade Sports Beans<br /><br /><b>During run:</b> sports beans if I needed them<br /><br /><b>Immediately post run:</b> More Lucozade Body Fuel, which I would drink while sitting in an ice bath! Brrr!<br /><br /><b>Breakfast:</b> <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/02/ice-cream-for-breakfast.html">Smoothie made with protein powder</a>; eggs on toast with beans, tomatoes and spinach; or porridge<br /><br /><b>Lunch:</b> Veggie burger, salad and bread; or an omelette if I didn't have eggs for breakfast<br /><br /><b>Afternoon snack:</b> A packet of crisps for salt replacement! Tyrrell's Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar are my favourite<br /><br /><b>Dinner:</b> Vegetable and quorn/tofu stirfry with brown basmati rice; or minestrone soup; or vegetarian "meatballs" with pasta in a tomato based sauce. <br /><br />This is actually a normal day of eating for me now (apart from the crisps - they are a treat if I've done a long run!), but the portions were very generous and the protein factor was upped big time during the marathon training to aid muscle recovery. I don't recall ever going hungry. And what I would say to readers who have asked is that there is no reason to be concerned that following a vegetarian diet would affect training for a big race in a detrimental way. It's never been a problem for me! If you ate nothing but vegetables and salad, maybe you would waste away to a thin chested matchstick - but if you make sure you are getting lots of vegetarian protein, such as eggs, lentils, chickpeas, beans and nuts, together with your complex carbs, you'll be firing on all cylinders!<br /><br />A few people have asked whether my appetite resembled a runaway freight train while I was in the midst of marathon madness - and I would answer yes, on the odd occasion it did, but no more than usual! I still have days where I'm really hungry and want to eat everything in sight! But I found that if I fuelled myself well enough then my appetite tended not to spiral out of control.<br /><br />So, my key take home messages!<br /><br /><ul><li>If you're doing a long run, <b>fuel well the night before</b> with a meal made up of complex carbs and protein that will give you slow burning energy the next day.</li><li>Drink Lucozade or another<b> electrolyte based sports drink</b> rather than water before you head out and once you've returned - this was a tip given to me for the marathon race day, and it's fantastic because not only do you get hydrated but you get the extra nutrients that your body loses during a long training session.</li><li><b>Eat within half an hour of returning from a long run</b>! This is quite important. If I got in from a long run and then got distracted and didn't eat within half an hour of coming back, I would get very, very hungry, almost to the point of "if I don't eat something right now I will pass out"! A good option is to make a quick protein smoothie from protein powder, milk or water, and a banana if you like. </li><li>Keep <b>healthy snacks</b> on hand so if you feel hungry you can top up the tank; grainy toast with peanut butter; baked beans on toast; hummous with vegetable sticks and pitta bread; nuts; homemade granola bars; rice pudding.</li><li>Let yourself have a <b>treat </b>once a week- mine was enjoying a bag of my favourite crisps and a beer on a Sunday afternoon after I'd pounded out about 18km that morning. After each half marathon race, I would usually go to GBK for a lentil burger and chips, or to our local Indian for garlic chilli naan bread and my favourite paneer dish. I think you've got to allow yourself some treats in there definitely. You're working hard after all! </li><li><b>Experiment with carb loading</b>! Try lots of different meals and get creative in the kitchen. I love the Australian Institute of Sport's cookbook series <i><a href="http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/publications/cookbooks">Survival of the Fittest</a> </i>cookbooks; in the UK you can check out <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-Faster-Food-energy-boosting-cyclists/dp/0091929326/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328446443&sr=8-1">Go Faster Food</a> </i>for lots of running friendly recipes!</li><li><b>Make sure you're getting enough sleep! </b> If you are feeling tired or lacking in energy it could be a simple case of getting to bed a bit earlier. But if you're getting enough sleep and you're still finding your energy levels are low, check in with an expert. </li><li><b>Research</b>, be as well informed as possible, ask the experts you have at your disposal, and experiment with different things until you find what is best for your body and your performance!</li></ul><b><b><br />What tips do you have for eating for performance and endurance?</b></b><br /><b><br />Are you vegetarian or vegan athlete? How do you find your endurance levels on a plant based diet?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8474647165269431160?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-29345660071857558602012-02-03T09:00:00.037Z2012-02-03T09:00:02.378Zretro friday: a letter TO my size 10 jeans<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kaleidoscopefashionmag.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/pile-of-jeans2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://kaleidoscopefashionmag.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/pile-of-jeans2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kaleidoscopefashionmag.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/pile-of-jeans2.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Happy Friday!<br /><br />One of my favourite posts is this one - <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2006/08/letter-from-my-size-10-jeans.html">a letter from my size 10 jeans</a>. Have a read, and now hear what 2012 Phil has to say to them! :)<br /><br />*****<br /><br />Dear Size 10 Jeans,<br /><br />Well, it's been a while. Almost six years, to be exact. <br /><br />That was an interesting time, wasn't it? I remember feeling incredible, having you around. You were never what I had aimed for, but how amazing it was to have got there, to you, almost by accident. <br /><br />I'm sure you remember that I reached my goal weight about four months before I met you, and was quite delighted and comfortable to be in size 12 jeans. Having subsisted on a regime of delusion and men's jeans only after refusing to buy size 20 a year earlier, size 12 was perfect. Amazing. I loved what I saw in the mirror. It was more than enough for me.<br /><br />And then life changed. I found myself not eating very much and drinking a little bit more, and always moving around because life was so exciting all of a sudden. There were adventures to be had, triathlons to compete in, new people to meet, and places to go. In fact, I didn't like sitting still. Sitting still would mean having to think about everything that had happened. Sitting still would mean having to sit with things like pain, anger, sadness. I didn't want that, so I kept moving. Another 6kg disappeared. And then, there you were. A surprise perfect fit. Instead of avoiding clothes shops that had previously been "out of my league", I was walking in there and then out again with size 8s and 10s in my shopping bag. It was a dizzy high to be on, indeed. Wearing you, I felt invincible. <br /><br />And now, it's been nearly six years since that time. And I think it might have been about three years since I last wore you. I honestly can't remember. I noticed you were getting a little ratty - I had worn you to death after all - and so I bought new jeans. Esprit, Oasis, Country Road, Topshop. All size 12. To my surprise, that really upset me at the time. I tried to swallow the disappointment. If I wasn't a size 10 any more, did that mean I was.....<i>gasp</i>......fat again?!<br /><br />So I tried you on. You were not comfortable. Instead of feeling like a second skin, it felt like you were strangling me. It felt like trying on an old life. An old life is never going to be a flattering fit. <br /><br />At first, I was horrified. I made myself run, all the time, to get back into you. But it didn't make me feel better. I was just tired. Physically, and emotionally. Tired of never feeling good enough. I looked at you, and I wanted to be the Phil who wore you again. I wanted to feel invincible again, like nothing could tear me down. Living this way, seeing the past as far better than it actually was, was not fun. <br /><br />But one day, after about a year of this torture, I woke up and decided <i>no more</i>. I couldn't live a life where I measured my self esteem on my size any more. If I kept this up, I was going to end up in The Priory. What on earth had been the point of all of it, and everything I'd learned, only to go back to treating myself with disdain and disrespect, when I should be proud of how far I'd come? Had I forgotten how much better life was when I treated myself with kindness, and where the end goal was <b>happiness</b><i>, </i>not some teeny tiny size determined by some fashion designer somewhere?!<br /><br />It was a huge mindshift, and it took time for it to sink in. Was it an admission of defeat, I wondered, to say I didn't want to wear these jeans, these dream jeans that symbolised so much, any more? Did that mean an express ticket back to life as it had been before?<br /><br />Of course it didn't. Far from admitting defeat, I was merely admitting I had Moved On. But also, more to the point, that <b>I am so much more than the size I am</b>. It's only a number. It only means what you want it to mean.<br /><br />Dear Size 10 Jeans, you were a symbol of all that was good about that time in my life. You gave me self esteem when I needed it most. I will always be grateful for that.<br /><br />But you know what? Over the past six years, having gone to rock bottom and back up again, I have built my self esteem on far more solid things, and I've also realised that this journey I am on does not have an end date. I am constantly learning more about the world, about who I am, what I want to be, what is important to me. In the process, my definition of what happiness is, and what healthy is, changes. All the time. <br /><br /><b>You were not the finish line.</b> <br /><br />I know myself better than I did six years ago. I like myself better than I did six years ago. Life as I was living it then was wild and fun, but it was not sustainable for the long term. Reaching goal, and then going beyond it, did not give me the ability to hit the pause button on my life. Life was always going to change, and my body was going to change with it. I can either resist that fact, and live with constant disappointment, or I can roll with the punches and just be bloody proud of how damn far I've come. I'm choosing the latter, baby. I know that I will always be reassessing and striving for new goals, and all I want now is to be my healthiest and happiest, in whatever moment or situation I find myself.<br /><br />The truth is, I don't know what size I am any more. It changes every time I go into a different shop. I can be anything from an 8 to a 14. It actually is insane how much it varies. Last year, in my peak marathon condition, I was measured for a special adidas sports top that Lucozade were giving me, and my measurements ended up being their size 16!! My mother in law bought me a dress for Christmas just gone and she got it in a 10 and a 12, and it was the 10 that was the perfect fit. While I was in Hobart last month, I took three size 8s into a change room. One was too small, one was too big, and one was just right. <br /><br />Insane, I tell you. I don't think it's my body that's the problem somehow.<br /><br />Only once in recent history have I been able to buy a piece of clothing without trying it on and know it will fit. And this is from someone who is a healthy weight, is stronger than she's ever been, and has run a marathon! It's not a perfect world. I've accepted it - I just have to line up for the damn fitting room and try stuff on. It's just the way it is. And if I let that affect the way I feel about myself....then I have to wonder whether I've really learned anything at all. <br /><br />All I know is, Size 10 Jeans, you didn't fit me comfortably any more. And you were well and truly past your prime, let's be honest! So I got rid of you. And I'm not going to beat myself up about it. Because I've got far more important things to worry about, and do with my life, now.<br /><br />Since you've been out of the picture, I've done some pretty cool things actually. I ran a marathon (did I mention that? ha ha!). I also wrote a book. And I got married. All of which were amazing, life changing and sent my heart soaring. And none of which had "must be a size 10" as a prerequisite. Funny that. <br /><br />There is so much I want to do, and become. I want to write amazing things that mean something out in the wider world and make a difference to someone's life. I want to do some good out there. I want to help, share, inspire and fire people up. I want to be a good wife, a good sister, a good daughter, a good aunt, a good friend and a good mother when the time comes. I want to be strong. I want to climb mountains, dance in the ocean, do yoga on cliff tops, march in the desert, ride motorcycles across crowded cities, and be able to run, run, run.<br /><br />And if having and being all that means the tiny jeans I was able to wear when I was 6kg under my goal don't fit any more, then that's just the way it is :)<br /><br />Thanks for everything Size 10 Jeans. I wish I could say I miss you.....but I really don't. My size 12s will do me just fine.<br /><br />Love always, Phil xoxo<br /><br />****<br /><br /><b>What do you guys think about sizes? I hope you know you're awesome, no matter what your tag says! It's only a number and numbers are not everything! xx</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-2934566007185755860?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-36195657443592148572012-02-02T09:00:00.005Z2012-02-02T09:00:03.172Zrecipes, revampedGood morning! It's been a busy week here at Latte Towers. Among many other things,<a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/p/my-recipes.html"> the recipe page</a> has been revamped! Have you checked it out yet?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/p/my-recipes.html"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oaHIhxGQ_Lo/Tym_I__qdvI/AAAAAAAADQA/s3wkGQqgZIs/s1600/recipes.jpg" /></a></div><br />I hope it's easier for you to find your way around there now. I have lots of foodie and recipe related posts in the pipeline, and thank you to readers who have emailed asking me thought-provoking things which have inspired these future posts! I thought I would put the call out to see if there's anything else you'd like in the food area? Any old favourites that have somehow dropped off the radar? Anything I mention all the time that I've never put up a recipe for? Any requests? Now's your chance - hit me up in the comments and I'll see what I can do!<br /><br />My favourite recipe at the moment is a lentil shepherds pie with a swede mash topping - pure comfort food and perfect for these -2 evenings we've been having. My fantastic Melbourne tan is slowly being bleached away. I stupidly didn't take a picture of the pie though. I was too concerned about eating it. What kind of blogger am I?! ;)<br /><br />Would you still like the recipe though?<br /><br /><b>Mental Lentil Shepherds Pie</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10035/images/10035_MEDIUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10035/images/10035_MEDIUM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aah, the good old <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10035/golden-veggie-shepherds-pie">BBC</a> - they're much more on the ball than me ;) </td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><br />I didn't have heaps of lentils to use in this pie, so I used what I had (barely 2 cups) and added a can of chickpeas to bulk it up. Turned out to be a delicious combination but use all lentils if you prefer. <i>NB: Tom said it was the inclusion of chickpeas that made this recipe </i>:) You can also use whatever vegetables you have or like in place of the ones I used. It's one of those "use up whatever vegetables look a bit feral" recipes - they are cooked up in a delicious sauce and then buried under a pile of mashed swede, so no one will ever know!<br /><br />Olive oil or cooking spray<br />1 leek, sliced thinly<br />2 large carrots, diced<br />2 small turnips, diced<br />100g mushrooms, diced<br />2 cups red lentils<br />1 x 410g can chickpeas, drained<br />1 x 240g can chopped tomatoes<br />Vegetable stock, to cover the lentils (keep an eye on it, you can always add more)<br />Worcestershire sauce (I use a fish free one), to taste<br />Dried mixed herbs, to taste (I used Sainsbury's Italian herbs)<br />Salt and pepper<br /><br />1 large swede (about 1kg), peeled and chopped<br />2 tablespoons dairy free spread or butter<br />Salt and pepper<br /><br />Heat a stockpot over medium heat with a bit of olive oil or cooking spray; then saute the leek, carrots, mushrooms and turnips until soft and a little golden. Add the lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes, sauce, herbs and stock. Add a bit of salt and pepper, bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook until the lentils are soft. This will take about 25 minutes. But keep an eye on it and add more stock if it gets too dry.<br /><br />In the meantime, boil or steam your swede until cooked through. Mash with butter or spread, and salt and pepper, until smooth. I find swede mash doesn't need milk as well, but if you think it needs it, add a splash. You don't have to use swede if you don't like it, but it came in my veggie box this week so I had to use it :) You could also use sweet potato, or butternut squash, or any other root vegetable you like.<br /><br />Put the lentil mixture into a large lasagne dish or baking dish, and then smooth the swede mash over the top.<br /><br />Bake in a hot oven (200 C) for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned on the top. My oven was broken at the time so it was a game of "beat the thermostat" and a miracle I got this thing cooked at all! Just goes to show that not even a broken oven will stop me!<br /><br />Serve with a pile of green vegetables and feel yourself warmed right through!!<br /><br />This is a really healthy piece of comfort food, if I do say so myself. Tom and I have been on a bit of a detox since being back in the UK, to atone for our somewhat indulgent holiday. We have had no alcohol since our last G&T somewhere over Bombay, and we've also decided to go dairy free for the time being and see how we go. We were already pretty dairy free already, with the exception of my cheese and yoghurt which I'm not missing as much as I thought. I don't know if it's a permanent thing or not, but right now I'm just craving cleanliness, and trying too avoid things that leave me feeling a bit clogged. So our breakfasts have been nutty muesli, porridge or grainy toast with Vegemite and avocado; and lunches and dinners have been soups filled with beans and vegetables, mellow and comforting dhals with brown rice; fresh and light noodle soups; caper, rocket and lemon pastas, and this practically vegan shepherds pie. Not too shabby. <br /><br />I feel pretty fantastic after only a week of eating well and back to normal - a bit like a balloon that's had some air taken out of it! I don't feel nearly as bloated as I did a few weeks ago when it was all white bread, beer, cheese and everything else under the sun. It's nice being able to cook for yourself again. Everything we've been having has been very tasty and filling. I wouldn't mind a salad in there somewhere. But somehow I think the body would reject that at the moment!<br /><br />Hope you have a delicious Thursday, and see you tomorrow for Retro Friday :D<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-3619565744359214857?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-22993594930810715692012-02-01T09:00:00.012Z2012-02-01T09:00:03.835Zthe "screw you" shoes: a sort-of fairy tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/YI1os/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/YI1os/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />Once upon a time, there were three princesses.<br /><br />One actually <i>was </i>a princess, who married Prince William last April, and who wore these delightful LK Bennett shoes to some event or another, thereby making them the hit of the season. <br /><br />The two other princesses grew up on the other side of the world, on an island, where they went to school together. One of them went to live in England, where she too found a prince (after kissing an awful lot of warty toads). This princess, who we'll refer to as Princess Latte, happened to have very big feet, and so LK Bennett held no interest for her. But the clothes, that was another matter ;)<br /><br />The last princess lived on a lovely farm on the island back home, where she reigned supreme over her loyal subjects - the sheep and the dogs - and had lots of shoes. This princess, like Princess Latte, had kissed a lot of warty toads but thought she had finally found her prince. He was not quite from the pages of a story book - although he seemed like a decent chap, he would sometimes go on unexplained weekends away and hide his phone bill. The princess tried to overlook this, because he was so very nice. When he was there. <br /><br />Not far from the princess's farm was a house made of cake. A witch lived there, and used the smell of cake and chocolate and spun sugar to entice princes into her lair, where she would cast a wicked spell on them. Most of the princes who made it out of there alive ended up having cake for brains. They were usually a few sizes bigger too, with all that cake about, and ended up being dropped from the royal football team.<br /><br />It turned out this prince had been lured in to the clutches of the cake witch. He would sometimes visit the farm with crumbs around his mouth, or icing on his trousers. The princess knew where he'd been.<br /><br />So this prince, who turned out to be another warty toad, moved into the house of cake and the princess was left on the farm, crushed and broken, with barely a crumb to guide her out of the mess. To help take her mind off things, she took long baths. She went walking at sunrise with the dogs. She drank champagne. She read. And, like most people with a broken heart, she bought things she didn't need off the internet. <br /><br />It was on one of those late night trawling sessions online that the princess found the LK Bennett shoes. They were beautiful and elegant. Everything this princess knew deep down that she was, despite what the prince had done. The shoes had been massively popular, and there was only one pair left in the whole wide world. In her size.<br /><br />The princess decided she had to have these shoes. These magical shoes. These "screw you!" shoes. The next time she saw the warty toad fake prince she wanted to look amazing. She had to have them. But how? These shoes were all the way in England, and she was on an island on the other side of the world.<br /><br />Then she remembered: her old friend, Princess Latte, was coming to the island for a visit soon. Maybe she could find the shoes for her? And so some royal email went back and forth, and Princess Latte was more than happy to bring the shoes over for her. But finding them was another matter. There was only one pair of magical screw-you shoes in the land, in a size 40, and no one would tell them where they were. Princess Latte was on a mission!<br /><br />Eventually, after slaying one or two dragons and getting lost in a few mazes, the shoes were located in the magical kingdom of Leeds. A footman showed up at Princess Latte's castle, bearing the magical white box.<br /><br />A few days later, she and Prince Tom hopped on a jet plane bound for the island as the ground around them turned to ice, and then found themselves on the other side of the world, where it was summer and the air smelled of the ocean, old sandstone, coffee and gum leaves. <br /><br />The two friends were reunited at last, and Princess Latte produced the precious shoes. They were every bit as beautiful as the princess could have hoped for. <br /><br />A few nights later, the princess was taken out by her cousin and his friends, the Seven Saints, all tanned, gorgeous young men who played on the royal football team. She wore a beautiful summer dress and, of course, the shoes. They gave her height, poise and confidence. She wasn't even thinking about the fake prince who had run off with the cake witch. And of course, that is the moment he appeared. <br /><br />They had not seen each other for months. He had clearly been eating <i>a lot </i>of cake. His mouth dropped open (surprisingly, not full of cake) when he saw her, seated on a plush couch, surrounded by her adoring entourage, who gave him very stern looks when he looked like he was thinking about coming over. The princess sipped her champagne with satisfaction. Her royal iPhone vibrated with a message.<br /><br />Of course it was fake prince.<br /><br /><i>Is it safe to come over?</i><br /><br />She waited a moment before replying.<br /><br /><i>I don't think so.</i><br /><br />Eventually the fake prince skulked off, having looked longingly in the princess's direction for the best part of an hour, and while she was happy to have her "screw you!" moment, there was a deeper satisfaction. She realised she did not miss him. How could she miss him, when he had never made her truly happy? She knew now that she did not need a prince to be happy. She could be happy all on her own, if that was the way things were. And while she no longer had a prince, she still had love in her life. She had her farm, her loyal subjects, and friends who loved her, with a love that kept her feet on the ground, in her wonderful shoes, but that also gave her wings.<br /><br />She knew she would be ok. And if she ever needed a jolt of magic, she always had the "screw you!" shoes.<br /><br />And that's the end of the story.......or is it? :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-2299359493081071569?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-69036985130541142542012-01-31T09:00:00.034Z2012-01-31T09:32:52.203ZbelieveTaking a holiday from real life over Christmas and New Year meant that my usual goal-setting, word-choosing, intention-setting routines for the first week of January didn't happen in the way they usually do. It was a longer process for me this time, a slower burning. Over the past few years, I've enjoyed picking a word for the year - I've often found that it has spurred me on. My word for 2010 was <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/01/my-word-for-2010.html">action</a> and boy oh boy did I get off my arse that year. 2011 was all about building on what 2010 had delivered, so I think my word last year was "expand" (I don't have a blog post or journal entry to confirm this, I'm just going off memory). But what was my word for 2012 going to be? At first I wasn't sure.<br /><br />Being back in Australia for six weeks was amazing; everything I hoped it would be. Wanting to make the most of this precious time with my family and friends, I found myself living far more in the present moment than I had been recently. Being present made me realise that some of the things I was sad about, or worrying about, were actually really, really <i>good </i>things. Things that would help me grow and move forward. Being removed from my life in the UK and everything that was causing stress or sorrow for a solid period of time, my mind was forced into a reflective quietness where I could think about the future and the coming year from a calmer and more balanced place.<br /><br />There is a lot of hard work ahead of me this year. Sometimes, in awful, nail-biting 3am moments, I wonder if I'm really ready for it, or capable of it. So many wonderful people believe in me, and I wish I could extract the essence of their faith into a bottle that I could sniff, like eucalyptus oil, to unclog my blockages and propel me onwards to where I need to go. Deep down, I know. I do know. I just need reminders sometimes.<br /><br />And so, without further ado, here is my word for 2012:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/c9bd014e484911e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/c9bd014e484911e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I had been thinking about my word, and what do I most <i>need </i>right now, for a few weeks, while I was in Hobart, in between lattes with my inspiring friends; after a tearful hug with my sister who, in one of my wobbly moments, told me how much faith she has in me; and a taxing but ultimately exhilarating and inspiring business meeting with a <a href="http://thepublicstudio.net/creative-business-consulting/">kick arse coach</a>; and in my quieter moments, listening to an old Bee Gees album as I drove by myself in my mum's car, tears rolling down my face, wishing with all my heart I could stay just a bit longer.<br /><br />And then, in Melbourne, in a shop I'd been to a million times, there it was. Glittering from the rack, the one word I needed to hear. I know what I need to do. The belief of others is amazing, and bolstering, and such a tonic for your weaker moments, but at the end of the day you must believe in yourself too. It's the only way you'll ever get where you want to be.<br /><br />I've worn that bracelet every day since. Every day, I am reminded to <b>believe</b>. <br /><br /><b>What's your word for 2012?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6903698513054114254?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-606261112007122832012-01-30T02:36:00.000Z2012-01-30T02:36:00.236Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691673_NSYjn54R_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691673_NSYjn54R_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691673_NSYjn54R_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-60626111200712283?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-28578998051599476602012-01-29T09:03:00.005Z2012-01-29T09:03:00.835Za cheese called tom: 24 hours on bruny island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqhxk/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqhxk/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've ever been to Tasmania, perhaps you've been to Bruny Island, or heard of it. For me it had always been the location of school camps, waiting on a dark beach for the penguins to emerge from the ocean, long walks on the beaches and cliff faces. You need to take a ferry from the "mainland" of Tasmania to get there. It sometimes feels like the Antipodes of the Antipodes. But, overwhelmingly, it is a peaceful, serene paradise that seems to sum up the phrase "get away from it all". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my dearest friends, Anne (who long time blog readers might remember!) has a shack there and so when Tom and I were offered the chance to have a night there with her, we jumped at the chance! I really wanted to show Tom some more of Tassie while we were there - we had done the East Coast beaches last time and so I thought going south was a good plan this time around!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We headed over on the ferry, which was great fun - and I ran into someone I used to work with about ten years ago on there (only in Tassie!) - and then we gang-planked and headed to the north of the island. Bruny is a really interesting place, it has a distinct north and south island and the two are joined together by a narrow stretch of beach and road called "The Neck", or the isthmus. I had never really seen much of the south island, but history buff Tom was keen to see Adventure Bay, so after depositing our bags at the shack, we headed off on a whirlwind tour of Bruny Island! Which included:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A trip to the <a href="http://brunyislandcheese.com.au/">Bruny Island Cheese Company</a>! Heaven! We were most amused that there was a cheese called Tom :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqbOX/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqbOX/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqcML/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqcML/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqdm5/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqdm5/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/79eb73203da011e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/79eb73203da011e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cheese company was a lovely place to visit: not only was there a lot of cheese on offer to buy and sample, but you could see the cheese being made, the storage facilities, and there was also a cafe and general store where you could buy all sorts of yummy gourmet stuff. A must visit for any foodie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqee4/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqee4/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/903645883da011e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/903645883da011e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we headed down to the isthmus, which was quite stunning (but windy!). The freshness of the air was incredible:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/e3bb54a03da011e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/e3bb54a03da011e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/fa9e74363da011e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/fa9e74363da011e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we crossed the isthmus into South Bruny, where we headed down to Adventure Bay. Tom really wanted to see it as it's where the ship <i>HMS Bounty </i>stopped on the way to Tahiti, just before the mutiny! We had a picnic on the beach, just before the rains came:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/64430a7a3dae11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/64430a7a3dae11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqkW3/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqkW3/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gruXE/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gruXE/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We drove back up to the North Island stopping at a few other beaches on the way:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gqmqa/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gqmqa/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws.com/4f40532e3da111e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws.com/4f40532e3da111e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And Anne and I delighted in spotting some wildlife and pointing it out to Tom - we saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna">echidnas</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandicoot">bandicoot</a>! I actually thought it looked more like a bilby, but you don't get those in Tassie ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then settled in to the shack for some fine wine and dining! I was in charge of dinner and made a delicious pasta, featuring the Tom cheese we'd bought from the cheese company:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.s3.amazonaws.com/ac02bf5e3dae11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.s3.amazonaws.com/ac02bf5e3dae11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>"Bruny" pasta - or zucchini, chilli and kale pasta</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Serves 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Olive oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 shallot or small onion, finely diced</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 cloves garlic, finely diced</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 large red chilli, finely diced</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 large zucchini (courgette), sliced into ribbons with a vegetable peeler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6-8 large leaves of kale, stalks removed and shredded</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1/2 glass white wine (optional)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">250g dried linguine or fettucine (or any long pasta)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Salt and pepper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few handfuls of finely grated gourmet cheese</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While it's cooking, heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat (I was using a combustion stove and didn't have much control over the heat!) and add the shallot/onion, garlic and chilli. Saute until soft. Add the zucchini and kale, saute until soft and cooked through. Add the white wine. Take off the heat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water. Toss with the zucchini and chilli mixture, with a little of the cooking water if it needs lubrication. Taste for seasoning, stir through some of the cheese, and then serve with a little more cheese sprinkled over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/98285a563db411e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/98285a563db411e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Scrumptious! I originally thought we would get the One Day Old cheese, which is a fresh soft cheese, for this dish, but Tom was all they had, so Tom was what we got ;) And you don't end up needing as much pasta because the zucchini/courgette strips become a bit like noodles, so it's actually a very light dish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We washed it down with a superb Tassie cab sav:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gryih/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gryih/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There might have been dessert:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/b89392d83db411e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/b89392d83db411e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You've got to enjoy yourself on holiday, right? ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stayed up long into the night chatting, drinking and playing LPs on the old stereo, which was great fun! The next morning we had a light breakfast and then Tom and I went for a long walk on the beach:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/gsOUQ/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/gsOUQ/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was time to head off to the ferry! Our 24 hours in Bruny was up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Isn't it funny how something can be on your doorstep for years and years, and it takes you moving to the other side of the world to appreciate how special it is? Many things on our Oz trip fell into that category for me. I felt very reconnected to the places and people this time, unlike previous trips which had been very brief and where perhaps, looking back, I hadn't been ready to return. I savoured every moment that I had my friends and family in front of me rather than seeing them as blurry faces on Skype; every gust of fresher-than-fresh air; every hour in the sun (when I remembered to put on sunscreen!); every chance to make a new memory rather than keep older redundant ones alive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To be honest, I still don't know exactly what "home" is for me - people often ask me do I feel English or do I feel Australian, and the answer is neither, most of the time - but on this trip, Australia felt more like home to me than it has for a very long time. It was wonderful, and it was hard to leave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>To be continued..............</i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-2857899805159947660?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-66881145110005752182012-01-28T08:27:00.000Z2012-01-28T08:27:00.388Zphil bitesHeh heh ;)<br /><br />I embraced my inner Nigella a few weeks ago and made two cooking videos for Weight Watchers UK using recipes from their new cooking compendium <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/shop/pub/index.aspx">The Complete Kitchen</a>. It's crammed with heaps of yummy healthy recipes and ideas. It was a struggle to just pick two recipes to do, let me tell you!<br /><br />The two videos are now live on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PlayWeightWatchers?feature=watch">WW YouTube channel</a>, so here they are for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!<br /><br /><b>Halloumi with warm lemony bean salad</b><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZuQVcFjlDV8" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><b>Marbled meringues with chocolate mousse</b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CiELno_jKac" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Let me know if you give them a try! I'm keen to give that lemony bean salad another go :)<br /><br />Happy Saturday folks xx<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6688114511000575218?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-18537409708989747772012-01-27T09:25:00.000Z2012-01-27T09:25:42.206Zretro friday: where it all began<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://data.whicdn.com/images/20040128/nike1_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://data.whicdn.com/images/20040128/nike1_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/20040128">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Do you ever feel sometimes that you're right back where you started....even though you aren't? :)<br /><br />We've been back in the UK for about 48 hours, I am sipping a hot lemon and ginger as we speak to fight off a cold/jet lag, and eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first organic veggie box since forever (!), and I'm wondering when would be the best time to go for a run, even though it's been an effort to put my dressing gown on this morning, let alone anything else!!<br /><br />While we were in Oz, I got word that I'd won a place in the upcoming <a href="http://uk.competitor.com/edinburgh/edinburgh-splash">Rock and Roll Half Marathon</a>, thanks to <a href="http://www.womensrunninguk.co.uk/">Women's Running</a> - I'd entered the comp sometime before Christmas and completely forgotten about it, as you do! It was a lovely surprise and has certainly given me the impetus to get back out there, pounding the pavements where I belong. Six weeks of travelling has left my routine thrown somewhat out of whack, to say the least!<br /><br />But I'm not too worried about my lack of activity for the past few weeks, because I know from experience what a good memory my body has: a few weeks of all-out effort will have me in good shape again. I just found running while in Oz a bit of a strain, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps it was the fact I wasn't fuelling myself very well, but I found doing even just 5k a bit taxing. I recall gritting my teeth as I ran along the bike track with Tom, my sister and brother-in-law, thinking "<i>how the hell did you ever run a marathon?!</i>" But I told myself then, as I often tell others, that not every run will be a good one. Some of them will be a struggle from the first step, some will be crap-tacular. But if you can see it through to the end and not give up, then you're still miles ahead of where you'd be if you'd just stayed on the couch :) I'm always kind of relieved when I have a bad run, because I know the next one will be better. <br /><br />Being back in Melbourne over the last week reminded me of my humble origins in my sport of choice. Melbourne is not only where I became a triathlete, but also where I did my first ever run, by the creek near the house I was living in at the time in the western suburbs. It was October 2005 and I had reached a frustrating plateau where the scales had not budged for a month, and no amount of yoga or power walking seemed to be helping. I knew deep down I needed to start upping my game a bit, and that running was probably the answer. I had always yearned to be a runner. But the truth? I was scared.<br /><br />Prior to the move to Melbourne, I had been a champion of The Easy Life. Hence, Blind Freddy could see why my life had moved in the directions it had, and why my dreams had stalled or died slow deaths. It had never sunk in for me that change requires getting uncomfortable, and that successful change means being ok with it. I wasn't ok with being uncomfortable and did everything to avoid it. I avoided difficult conversations, swallowed long-held resentments and guilt, and preferred the sofa to the bike track any day of the week. Finally, the fog lifted and I could see why things were the way they were - and that I could change them. In fact, <i>only</i> I could change them.<br /><br />And so I was sitting with similar thoughts on the morning of Monday, October 24th 2005 - knowing that running would be hard at first, but I had no choice if I wanted to get to where I wanted to be. <br /><br />I knew where I wanted to be.......but I had no idea <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/04/dial-m-for-marathon-race-report-virgin.html">where I would actually go</a> :) 2005 Phil wrote <i>"right now, the possibility of me running for 20 minutes continuously is about zero!</i>" Oh, she had no idea what was coming, did she?!! Can you imagine if I'd thrown in the towel there and then, just because it was hard? Where would I be? <i>Who</i> would I be? That's something I need to remind myself of now too. Don't walk away just because it's hard.<br /><br />Getting started is often the hardest part, of anything, but once you get started, there is no telling where you might end up and that's part of the fun!<br /><br />So, do read today's <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2005/10/first-run.html">retro post</a> about my first ever run!<br /><br /><b>If you're a runner, do you remember your first run? </b><br /><br />*****<br />I've got about 10 posts in draft stage about the trip to Oz, things learned, things bought (including a very wonderful dress!), things cooked and eaten.....there is a lot to tell you, and a lot brewing in the Skinny Latte machine. I hope what comes out of it will be very delicious coffee indeed :)<br /><br />More very soon! So stay tuned my friends, and have yourselves a fantastic weekend xx<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1853740970898974777?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-79797102637453597782012-01-23T00:01:00.000Z2012-01-23T00:01:00.921Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691674_oNSM6KFT_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747691674_oNSM6KFT_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/153755774747691674/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-7979710263745359778?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-67393646962278524482012-01-20T00:00:00.073Z2012-01-20T00:00:01.427Zretro friday: return to melbourne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's time again for <b>Retro Friday</b>, and I'm in Melbourne!!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/b5794ab0426a11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/b5794ab0426a11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom browsing in the Brunswick St bookstore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/311ba394426a11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/311ba394426a11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melbourne street art - I love it! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/e8748024423311e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/e8748024423311e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first latte in Melbourne - bliss!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/9e0e51da427011e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/9e0e51da427011e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shanghai Dumpling House. Need I say more? :)<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/c026fb3a427711e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/c026fb3a427711e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/507e8d44427111e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/507e8d44427111e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mango granita on a hot afternoon at Journal</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/f551f436427711e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/f551f436427711e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughed very hard at this :) </td></tr></tbody></table><br />So, seeing that I'm in Melbourne at the moment, I thought it might be nice to revisit one of my earliest posts, when I first moved here seven years ago. As you all know, there has been a lot of change and upheaval in my life since then, all of it good (thought it didn't always feel that way at the time!), and the move to Melbourne in 2005 was just the beginning of all that change. It was the stone that started the ripple effect. But moving to Melbourne was a hard decision to make - branching out and breaking away from everything that I'd ever known up to that point was a huge thing to do. I remember having coffee with my friend Kris in Hobart about a month before the move, terrified that it would be a big mistake and how would I cope in a new state, in a big city, where I knew about two people!<br /><br />Change is hard. Even when you know it's for the best, and that you will grow because of it, it's hard. But once you go through it, and you're on the other side, you wonder what you were ever afraid of. <br /><br />Being back in Melbourne this time feels wonderful, not tinged with sadness or too fleeting and brief like the last few times I've been here. We've still been pretty busy but there's been some lovely snatches of downtime with people I haven't seen properly for years and reconnecting with this place that became so much a part of me and my identity when I lived in it. It is a magical city. I still love it with a passion, and it still surprises me. But I'm not the same person I was when I lived here, but nor is Melbourne the same city I lived in at the time; it has changed, albeit subtly. But it's been nice, and gratifying, to realise that and to make some new memories here when I return. I love making new memories. That's what life's all about!<br /><br />And it's fitting that yesterday I met up with my old friend <a href="http://gomumma.blogspot.com/">Ash</a>, as today's retro post describes our first meeting! She was not only the first friend I made in Melbourne, but also the first person I ever met "off the internet" and I remember being <i>so</i> nervous when I finally met her in person after being a reader/lurker!! Remember this was 2005 and, to me at least, having online friends was still a really new thing! I mentioned this to Ash over our mango granita (me) and skim latte (her) yesterday and she agreed, remembering explaining to her somewhat sceptical husband who I was. "I don't know her, but I <i>know </i>her!" she recalled saying! We were both very careful about making sure we met in a public place (South Melbourne market) and both of us having our mobiles in case the other turned out to be a psycho - our natural wariness turned out to be completely unfounded of course!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/0a3e280c427211e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/0a3e280c427211e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As with all my old friends, whenever we meet up again after a few years it feels like no time has passed at all. It felt as if she lives nearby but we just hadn't caught up for a while. I love that about my friends here :) And while a lot has changed in both our lives since that first meeting nearly seven years ago, a lot hasn't - I love being around her, and find her such easy company, as I did that very first day :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*******</div><br /><b>30th October 2005</b><br /><br />I've had a wonderful day today. I met up with fellow blogger Ash in person at the South Melbourne Market, and we had the best time!<br /><br />We had a delicious lunch at a cafe called Bunyip, then walked around the markets for a while. I have a thing about markets. I love everything about them - the atmosphere, the sights, the smells, the sounds. I go weak at the knees at the sight of glistening pyramids of polished apples, bunches of feathery coriander and parsley, just picked crispy lettuces beady with dew. I love the smell of coffee beans, fresh lillies and sandalwood soaps. I even love that musty, market smell of the clothes stalls - it reminds me of uni (for some weird reason). After being a bit disappointed at not being able to afford the luxury art supplies I saw in Fitzroy last week, I was delighted to see watercolour paint sets and canvases at this market at very reasonable prices. I also loved the scented candle and soap stalls. Some of the soaps smelled good enough to eat - the chocolate one, for example! I couldn't resist the scented candles - I got two little votives in Vanilla and French Pear.<br /><br />Then, we had a steamed South Melbourne market dim sim. I had heard so much about these dim sims. My friend Mark had assured me that they would be the best I'd ever eaten. We took our place in the queue and watched as the stallholders doled out dim sims and spring rolls to the eager market-goers. Very brisk, very methodical. Ash made me laugh when she compared it to the Soup Nazi character in Seinfeld. "No dim sim for you! You come back, one year!"<br /><br />We got our dim sims and found a little table to sit down at. "This is heaven in a paper bag," said Ash. She was right. It was, without a doubt, the best dim sim ever! It wasn't mushy, like some I've had, it was firm and fresh and delicious. I could have eaten a hundred of them. But at 3 points each, I savoured every mouthful of my sole indulgence. If there's one thing I've learned on this journey (and I've learned a great deal!), it's that I don't need to eat enough for an army to feel satisfied.<br /><br />We bought fruit and vegetables as well - I was amazed at the quality and freshness of the produce, and also at the incredibly low prices. I bought some lovely spring vegetables - a huge bundle of asparagus, a bunch of bok choy and some yellow squash - and some fragrant, ripe strawberries. I also couldn't resist the beautiful lillies, and bought myself a $5 bunch of them. They are on my dining room table now. By tomorrow, my home will smell like a flower shop!<br /><br />We ended up going to Richmond for the afternoon and then on to the London Tavern for dinner. Ashley's husband John came along too, and we all chatted like old friends - you'd never think we'd only met that day! While in Richmond, I bought a yoga DVD for $6.95 at booktalk, a new and preloved book store and cafe. It's called Yoga Tv - the dvd for switched on living. It's got over two and a half hours of yoga, with six different classes . I'm looking forward to trying it tomorrow. I figured for $6.95 I had nothing to lose, and after finding a link to it on the web I've noticed it retails for $26 elsewhere, so I'm stoked!!<br /><br /><i>NB from 2012 Phil: I found that DVD while in Hobart and am planning to give it a go once I get home, for old times sake! ;) </i><br /><br />Today made me realise how much I love living in Melbourne. The sun was out, the streets were bustling and alive, there were people everywhere, smiling and having a good time (including me!). Every time I venture out in this city, I discover something new and magical. Yes, there is a small part of me that sometimes longs for the familiarity of Hobart, but those moments are few and far between. To be honest, life there had got very stale (I didn't realise that until we moved). I never really had to think in Hobart - I did things on auto pilot. I went to the same places, did the same things. Here in Melbourne, everything is new, everything is exciting. I am never bored. I'm feeling more and more at home every day.<br /><br />I made sure I had my camera with me, so Ash and I could show all our Blogland friends some evidence of our fun day together. She is such a beautiful girl, so kind and friendly. We hit it off so well - it's astonishing that we only met today. Maybe I knew her in a past life, or something! So, here we are, after dinner, in the beer garden of the London Tavern: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nsVuKklTYc0/SeM3Hpw_ojI/AAAAAAAACBo/uVljtOYzcbg/s1600/phil_ash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nsVuKklTYc0/SeM3Hpw_ojI/AAAAAAAACBo/uVljtOYzcbg/s320/phil_ash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><i>NB from 2012 Phil: huge difference in the two pics! We look so different now!! In those seven years I've learned how to apply make up, for a start! ;) </i> <br /><i><br /></i><br />I had a beautiful Sri Lankan chicken curry for dinner, which Ash and I thought was around 8 points. Including my dim sim at the market, I've finished the day on 20 points! Not too shabby.<br /><br />Thanks again, Ash, for such a fantastic day!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">********</div><br /><b>Who was the first person you met "off the internet"? :) </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6739364696227852448?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-9154624191479833302012-01-17T07:29:00.000Z2012-01-17T07:29:29.434Zhow to make a skinny latteOne of the fun things about having a blog is seeing your audience grow, and also finding out how they discovered you. How it normally goes is "oh I was on this blog, and then I clicked on one link, and then another, and then somehow I landed on yours....and the rest is history!"<br /><br />Sometimes I have a look at the key word searches and see what people have typed into search engines and have somehow ended up here at Skinny Latte Strikes Back. Some have been rather interesting ("back to the future cap" and, after Friday's post, pole dancing!) but one that kept recurring recently was <b>how to make a skinny latte</b>. <br /><br />It dawned on me.....I didn't actually know! So I thought why not give people what they came here for, and learn something myself at the same time? :)<br /><br />So, I present to you.....the first episode of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/skinnylattetv?feature=watch">Skinny Latte TV</a>, <b>how to make a skinny latte!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ya0jwNjgnmE" width="500"></iframe></b><br /><b><br /></b><br />This is my friend Bill Lark, the Godfather of Australian whisky and trained barista, giving me the low down on the finer points of latte making. I hope you enjoy having a watch, it was lots of fun to shoot, and I learned a lot!<br /><br />I am yet to upgrade to a coffee machine for my home coffee drinking (I still use a french press) but now I have the know-how to do it cafe style, who knows!!<br /><br /><b>Do you have a coffee machine at home? Do you make your lattes cafe style? :) </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-915462419147983330?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-78622493958198551722012-01-16T00:00:00.000Z2012-01-16T00:00:01.044Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383098_345956555414884_134432746567267_1461207_354828348_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383098_345956555414884_134432746567267_1461207_354828348_n.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/goodstufffornicepeople">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-7862249395819855172?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-23517455851254874502012-01-13T00:03:00.012Z2012-01-13T00:03:00.125Zretro friday: dancing with a pole<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Sax3m_Q2lGs/TJZUVbLfn3I/AAAAAAAAAGs/pB0WO0WQrGA/s1600/forever-retro-cover-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Sax3m_Q2lGs/TJZUVbLfn3I/AAAAAAAAAGs/pB0WO0WQrGA/s320/forever-retro-cover-.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=retro&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=499&tbm=isch&tbnid=A-uKGS1uX3r65M:&imgrefurl=http://sakshiarora287.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-school-charm.html&docid=J3WREle1AnviqM&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Sax3m_Q2lGs/TJZUVbLfn3I/AAAAAAAAAGs/pB0WO0WQrGA/s1600/forever-retro-cover-.jpg&w=300&h=402&ei=9aMOT7G7ELHjmAX29ZjxAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=461&sig=115708021805079000156&page=1&tbnh=127&tbnw=95&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=18&ty=69">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I was around at my sister's house yesterday afternoon and somehow pole dancing came up in the conversation. <br /><br />"Did you ever do pole dancing again?" she asked. The answer is no, the only time I've been pole dancing was about six years ago now...but it made me think of the blog post I did about it, so I've dug that one out for this week's <b>Retro Friday</b>!<br /><br />At the time I wrote this post I had reached my goal weight about three days earlier, so I was high as a kite and on top of the world. I remember that time in my life being bathed in a golden kind of glow, which is funny because at the same time some major rust in my first marriage had set in and it was only a matter of weeks before something terrible, irreversible, would happen and it would all be over.<br /><br />It was the new found confidence, the joy and delight in a world that had suddenly opened up to me, and my new belief that life was an adventure that got me through that time. I said yes to everything. Invites I would have turned down twelve months previously, activities that the old me would have cringed at the thought of doing....I dived head first into it all. I felt invincible. I steam rolled over every obstacle in my way. For the first time in my life I did not doubt that I deserved to be happy. I had my low moments, but overall I don't look back at that time and remember pain. I remember sheer exhilaration, that my life was finally mine again.<br /><br />Of course, you can only ride a wave for so long. A few things happened the following year that chipped away at my confidence and before I knew it I was in a bit of a heap. After all the monumental upheaval I'd been through, it took some surprisingly insignificant events to bring me crashing down. It took a year of counselling to get back on the straight and narrow, well as near to it as I wish to be ;) <br /><br />While I wouldn't want to relive the year I had when I realised I wasn't as invincible as I thought I was, and that life at goal still required mindfulness, effort and hard work, I'm glad it happened. Because I struck back, as the title of this blog suggests. I clawed my way out of the hole and the old ways of thinking that I'd gone back to and reclaimed the happiness I had fought so hard for. I struck a far better balance between making myself happy and doing what I thought others expected or wanted. I developed a somewhat thicker skin, and became much better at recognising false friends when they crossed my path. My tolerance for other people's negativity went down to zero. Life regained its glow. <br /><br />And I think my confidence and zest for life is far more concrete now, and means so much more, than it did six years ago. I had some wonderful times six years ago, when I desperately needed it, but it was all built on very shaky foundations. Sure, I was at goal, and exploring Melbourne and having a wonderful time, but what would happen when things, inevitably, hit a downward turn? Now, it takes a lot to throw me off course these days. I've learned a lot of life lessons these past few years and am so much better at seeing the bigger picture. I have my bad days, like everyone else does, but I manage them so much better. I don't try to press the pause button on my life any more, nor do I tell myself "I'll be happy when....". Every day, I wake up and just decide to be as happy as possible, in that moment. <br /><br />So, 2006 Phil, newly at goal, had this to say: <i>"before I used to feel like I was always a dollar short and a day late when it came to opportunities in life. Now I feel like there is nothing I can't do."</i><br /><br />I smile at that, thinking of everything that she's going to learn in the next five years or so. But she's ready for it all. And no, there's nothing she can't do. I wish 2008 Phil had remembered that :)<br /><br /><b>28th April 2006</b><br /><br />Last night, I did something I've never done before and never thought I'd do in a million years. Well, something Old Philippa would never have done in a million years. Let me give you a clue.....<br /><br />(this is a scene from Da Kath and Kim Code)<br /><br /><i>Kim:</i> It's sexy dancing with a pole!<br /><i>Sharon: </i>Well, that sounds a bit stupid, Kim!<br /><i>Kim:</i> Oh, stupid, is it?! So are the people on Big Brother stupid, Sharon? Because they all do pole dancing!<br /><br />That's right, I did <i>pole dancing</i>!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1ITQubHpwM/Tw6jl763_DI/AAAAAAAADOo/CavX0X_u2O8/s1600/poledancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1ITQubHpwM/Tw6jl763_DI/AAAAAAAADOo/CavX0X_u2O8/s1600/poledancing.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span><br />Check out my outfit! Both pieces are from Supre, both size M!! (including the hot pants!!) Classy, eh?! Admittedly they aren't the most flattering clothes I own - I can't really bend over in the pants! - but I had to look the part! A girl I work with teaches pole dancing on the side, with this company, and she asked me if I'd like to come along to one of her classes - I thought, "why not?". Apparently she's asked most of the girls from work to come along, and I was the first to take her up on the offer!<br /><br />It was really fun! It was a bit different to what I imagined - I thought it would be just a lot of pelvic thrusts, wiggling the hips and acting like a stripper! It was actually very acrobatic - which I am not. Yes, I do yoga, but I'm not a gymnast, or a dancer, far from it! While my upper body strength has improved out of sight since this time last year, it wasn't up to scratch for a two hour pole dancing class! Supporting your body weight on a pole is a lot harder than it sounds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x2gfoXGFGaM/Tw6jodnK0CI/AAAAAAAADOw/ovd4TDLy_ls/s1600/poledancing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x2gfoXGFGaM/Tw6jodnK0CI/AAAAAAAADOw/ovd4TDLy_ls/s1600/poledancing2.jpg" /></a></div><br />I had a very large vodka and Diet Coke before the class, to try and loosen up a bit! Hence the silly look on my face in the above photo! What do you reckon - should this be my new profile photo?! LOL<br /><br />There were quite a few ladies in the class, and they were all real pros!! I was quite in awe of how graceful they were. I learned some basic steps, and then I learned how to climb the pole and slide down it in a sexy way - didn't quite succeed!! I was really pleased that I could climb the pole though - I didn't think I could. We also learned moves called "the carousel", "the maypole" and "wonderwoman"!!!, none of which I mastered, but I had a go! And some moves didn't require a lot of flexibility and grace (luckily), some were just standing poses. I learned some really good moves with those! I had my hair out for some of the class, because it's supposed to be sexier! But I eventually had to put it back because it was getting in the way! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_AVpDzEuqsk/Tw6jpMGZHmI/AAAAAAAADO0/11W3fTUccu8/s1600/poledancing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_AVpDzEuqsk/Tw6jpMGZHmI/AAAAAAAADO0/11W3fTUccu8/s1600/poledancing3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Ladies, if you ever get a chance to do a pole dancing class, give it a go! It was really fun, and a fantastic workout. It was a two hour class, and I was sweating madly only half an hour into it. My arms and legs felt like they'd really done something! I was warned that I would be incredibly sore, but I wasn't really.<br /><br />This morning I woke up feeling very toned and tight, like there wasn't an ounce of fat on me, which is always a good way to feel!! I looked in the mirror and saw a few more ripples (of muscle, that is!) After a day at work I was rather achy though, and didn't feel up to a run tonight, so did some yoga instead. I would never have had the confidence to do something like this a year ago. Or even six months ago, when I was only half way to goal.<br /><br />While pole dancing was fun, I don't think I'd do it as a regular thing, but it's something that I can say I've tried. I see everything as an opportunity to experience more out of life. I don't watch other people have fun any more - I get in there and have fun too! Before I used to feel like I was always a dollar short and a day late when it came to opportunities in life. Now I feel like there is nothing I can't do.<br /><div><br />******<br /><b>Have you ever tried pole dancing?</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Do you remember a time in your life where you felt like there was nothing you couldn't do? Hopefully it's right now! :) </b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-2351745585125487450?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-80567534302441528552012-01-09T00:02:00.000Z2012-01-09T00:02:00.359Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747693475_z784cW2X_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747693475_z784cW2X_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/153755774747693475/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8056753430244152855?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-10954670742520298662012-01-08T05:35:00.000Z2012-01-08T05:35:48.926Zthe latte files: foodie/tassie edition!Happy Sunday my friends! I hope you're enjoying your first full 2012 weekend! Hard to believe that this time last week it was only New Year's Day and the year had only just begun. I hope you've all had happy and healthy starts to your year.<br /><br />Originally Tom and I were meant to go back home last Thursday, if we had stuck to our original itinerary! I'm so glad we extended the trip, it feels like we only just got here! It's wonderful to know we have a few more weeks of sunshine and time with the people we love. I am dreading having to leave Tassie. I'm trying not to think about it. Being back has made me realise how much we do miss out on being so far away :(<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/fCjTq/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/fCjTq/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awww :) </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Yesterday we made our way to Salamanca Market with my sister and niece. It's one of my favourite places in Hobart and has not really changed all that much since I was a child. While we were wandering around there was a man at one of the fruit stalls calling out "Cherries! Eight dollars a kilo!" over and over, and I remembered hearing the same voice calling out pretty much the same thing about twenty five years ago! Salamanca Market is definitely a must see when you go to Hobart - I always recommend visitors to the city go if you happen to be there on a Saturday.I don't know whether it's the beautiful old buildings and cobblestones, the smell of coffee, bratwursts, donuts frying, fresh flowers, huon pine and beeswax candles, music from live bands and buskers, the freshness in the air from the nearby wharf, the crowds of chattering people.... it's just magical. I never get tired of going there. It was a must on our itinerary at least once while we were back!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/e371542c399011e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/e371542c399011e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/b0e6277838e911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/b0e6277838e911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/633883f438e911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/633883f438e911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/edfeda7038e811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/edfeda7038e811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/4f71a5ae38e811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/4f71a5ae38e811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We got there early to have breakfast first, and to beat the crowds (I feel like that should be in inverted commas, although yesterday's crowds did have an Oxford Street quality about them!) Breakfast was at Tricycle, which is in the building where the Peacock Theatre is. I've been there for coffee a few times now, and the breakfasts always looked delicious. I had scrambled eggs on sourdough:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/0b01735438e811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/0b01735438e811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And my usual coffee order:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/eQ9cB/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/eQ9cB/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />On Friday I helped one of my other sisters, who is about halfway through her second pregnancy, stock her freezer with healthy meals! We managed to make a huge batch of <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/10/best-ever-vegetable-soup.html">best ever vegetable soup</a>, which we put cannellini beans in instead of pasta, and a huge loaf of multigrain bread. Tonight I'm going to help her make a huge pot of carrot and spinach dhal. Not that it's the sort of weather for it - in fact, I am questioning my sanity slaving over a hot stove making curry when it's 28 degrees out there!! But I'm happy I can help out in a practical way while I'm here - something that I can't really do once I'm back on the other side of the world. My sister has a job and a toddler to run around after as well - by the time baby #2 comes, she'll have two under two! I have nothing but admiration for her, I don't know how she does it :)<br /><br />I took advantage of having a nice kitchen to work on in and so on Friday I also did another Weight Watchers recipe video - this time it was dessert! Check it out:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laAalh1UaFg/TwfJIk2yWGI/AAAAAAAADOQ/BgV8uQGrhaw/s1600/Copy+%25282%2529+of+IMG_8945+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laAalh1UaFg/TwfJIk2yWGI/AAAAAAAADOQ/BgV8uQGrhaw/s320/Copy+%25282%2529+of+IMG_8945+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11iYY2SAjaI/TwfJJ4PghSI/AAAAAAAADOY/4N65f8G0w8w/s1600/Copy+%25282%2529+of+IMG_8946+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11iYY2SAjaI/TwfJJ4PghSI/AAAAAAAADOY/4N65f8G0w8w/s320/Copy+%25282%2529+of+IMG_8946+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRGfBEwb-s0/TwfJLL83KaI/AAAAAAAADOg/xq8dYHhW-Dw/s1600/Copy+%25282%2529+of+IMG_8947+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRGfBEwb-s0/TwfJLL83KaI/AAAAAAAADOg/xq8dYHhW-Dw/s320/Copy+%25282%2529+of+IMG_8947+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Marbled meringues with chocolate mousse! It didn't taste like diet food to me :) Tom is editing as we speak, and I will let you know when you can view the videos. Hopefully they aren't too embarrassing!<br /><br />And, on that note (!), if you're in the UK, go and grab yourself a copy of the latest <a href="http://www.runningfitnessmag.co.uk/magazine">Running Fitness</a> magazine. They have a new columnist......yours truly! I was approached late last year to write a regular column for them, and the first one is in the latest issue. My column is called "The Latte Files", where I talk about how I got started in running and the adventures I've had (and continue to have) as I've got well and truly sucked in to the wonderful and addictive world of running! If you want to feel pumped up to get out there and train for an event, or to get started on your own running journey, I do recommend checking Running Fitness out - whether you're a beginner or an experienced runner, it's impossible not to feel motivated after reading it! Everyone who writes for the magazine <i>loves </i>running, and I think that really shows (and I'm not just saying that!). I'm excited about seeing it properly once I get home (I don't think I'll be able to find it in Hobart somehow!). Let me know if you check it out, I'd love to hear what you think :)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.runningfitnessmag.co.uk/images/stories/latest_ssue/rf_mag_200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.runningfitnessmag.co.uk/images/stories/latest_ssue/rf_mag_200.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.runningfitnessmag.co.uk/images/stories/latest_ssue/rf_mag_200.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Well, the rest of this week is going to be making the most of the time I have left on the island. Taking Tom to a few places he hasn't seen and I haven't been for years; squeezing in every possible moment I can with my parents, sisters, friends, nephews and niece; soaking up all this glorious sunshine. I can't remember the last time Tassie had such a great summer!<br /><br /><b>What are you up to this week? Hope you have a great one! :) xx</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1095467074252029866?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-73565297061964701962012-01-06T08:49:00.000Z2012-01-06T08:49:46.246Zretro friday: a million brazilians<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weddingesque.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/so_retro_by_mathiole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.weddingesque.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/so_retro_by_mathiole.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=retro&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=499&tbm=isch&tbnid=Z-GCsBA5lehhgM:&imgrefurl=http://www.weddingesque.com.au/blog/&docid=oiJ5bVvmrmkvwM&imgurl=http://www.weddingesque.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/so_retro_by_mathiole.jpg&w=768&h=1024&ei=A5QGT-O7KobbmAXivLiFAg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=444&sig=115708021805079000156&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&tx=54&ty=35">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I thought I'd start doing something different on here, and thus I present to you.....<b>Retro Friday! </b>I thought I'd dig through the archives and find an old post and share 2012 Phil's thoughts on what was going on in that post at that time. I thought it might give you all a laugh if nothing else!<br /><br />So in keeping with that aim, and apologies if this post heads into the Too Much Information category, today's retro post documented my first ever Brazilian wax! At the time I was living in Melbourne with my two triathlete housemates, Ironman and Mechanic, who had the whole deal waxed quite regularly, and I ended up going to their waxer! It was an excruciatingly painful experience but I loved the result, and have had them done ever since. It took ages for me to find someone in London to do them, and then she left the salon and I felt bereft at having to find someone else! Do you find that? I get quite sad if I've built up a relationship with someone and then they move on and I can't find where they've gone to and have to start again!<br /><br />No matter how many times I've had a Brazilian, I still get very nervous and wimpy about it! But the pain is always worth it! Some people recommend having two<span style="background-color: white;"> nurofen</span> before going, but I don't find that makes much difference to me. My recommendations are 1) never be tempted to keep the job tidy with shaving between waxes, because if you shave and then get waxed it hurts like buggery! 2) exfoliate to keep ingrown hairs at bay and 3) talk about something nice while it's being done to make it go faster!<br /><br />The date of this retro post is also interesting, because exactly one year later, to the day, I was living in London and <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/07/decisions-and-revisions-which-minute.html">I met Tom</a>! And three years later, on that same day, <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/10/wedding-part-two.html">we were getting married</a>! But at the time I wrote this retro post I was newly single and had starting seeing someone....who broke up with me before I got to show the Brazilian off! I remember thinking that was the most disappointing aspect of the whole situation - what a wasted effort it had all been!!<br /><br />If only I had known what was around the corner for me :)<br /><br />So, without further ado.........<br /><br /><b>1st September, 2006 </b><br /><br />The first day of spring. It's warm, the sun is out, I can smell blossoms and flowers.... it feels so magical. It feels like such a relief to have made it to September - the winter, the darkest of my life, has gone. And there is so much to look forward to. For starters, this will be a month of milestones for me - next Friday, the 8th, will mark one year since I moved to Melbourne. I won't be able to use the excuse of "Oh, I've only just moved here from Hobart" when I can't find my way around for much longer, so I'd better get my act together!! And on the 19th, it will be my blog-aversary - a year since my first post, and a year since I started another incredible facet of my journey.<br /><br />Today being the first day of spring, I can declare to the world that I made it through the winter without getting the flu or even a small cold - for the very first time in my life. I can't believe it! What a relief it has been to avoid that. Mind you, I have been so frantic and busy lately that I was worried that sooner or later I would collapse in a heap. But no, I just keep going! This is great! I am feeling very alive and wonderful. I have been for a run every morning this week, except Tuesday, and I really noticed the difference. I've put in some long days at work this week, and I found that on all the other days I have been alert and focused, and have far more energy, because I've been for a run in the morning. This morning I was awake at 5.30, so was able to go for a bit longer than normal. There's nothing like the high of morning exercise - I'm loving it. The size 10 jeans still fit very nicely, even after their first wash, and (to my surprise) even after excessive consumption of ice cream and alcohol (not together!). Haven't got on the scales for two weeks, so I might weigh in next week some time, depending on how good I feel after my weekend in Hobart! I leave tonight for a couple of days.<br /><br />And here's another first - something I can strike off my "101 Things I want to Do In Life" list (which I haven't made - only in my head). <i>Warning - This might fall into the "too much information" category.</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />Last night, I got a Brazilian!! I'd been meaning to get one for ages and ages, but was always so.. I don't know, skittish about the thought of waxing<i> that</i>, and having a complete stranger poking around down there. I haven't had any children, so I still have some modesty, LOL. I used to be paranoid about Pap Smears as well - but I went and had one done in July and to my surprise, I just didn't care. It was just something I had to do, no big deal. Which made me think that maybe, just maybe, I might be OK getting a Brazilian done.<br /><br />I had a year on the acne drug Roaccutane, which I finished in May, and during that time I could not remove hair by waxing, as it would have removed an entire layer of my epidermis! So my bikini area was in desperate need of a tidy up, let's put it that way. My housemate, Mechanic, recommended a beautician to me in Ivanhoe - that's apparently where he gets waxed. And she was great - really lovely, put me at ease, so I didn't feel embarrassed at all, which I thought would be the biggest hurdle. But, oh I was so wrong. It absolutely f***ing CANED!!! There were moments where I had to put both hands on my stomach and pull the skin up tight, and then she'd say "breathe in!", and then she'd just RIP!! I didn't swear (a miracle!) but I yelped very loudly a few times!!<br /><br />The end result, however, was well worth it. It feels weird, but good weird. I'll have it done again. I feel very sexy. If you've ever thought about it - do it!!<br /><br />********<br /><br /><b>Do you get waxed? Are you a Brazilian fan? :) </b><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-7356529706196470196?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-47549717222548177932012-01-05T07:32:00.001Z2012-01-05T09:54:09.462Zthe year of lolasana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/386744_10150564947887985_667992984_11114731_675837335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/386744_10150564947887985_667992984_11114731_675837335_n.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><br />During my brief blink-and-you'd-miss-it visit to Sydney a few weeks ago, my darling Mary took me along to <a href="http://www.theyogafactory.com.au/">The Yoga Factory</a> for an early Saturday morning class, as is our tradition when I come to visit! I was amazed at my stamina and energy, considering I'd got off a 24 hour flight the night before ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/388802_10150563946222985_667992984_11109948_618853554_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/388802_10150563946222985_667992984_11109948_618853554_n.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><br /><br />We got our jivamukti vibe on and I made my way through the dynamic flow quite well, until we got to lolasana!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/815ad256372c11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/815ad256372c11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original image from <a href="http://www.damngoodyoga.com/2011/04/asana-of-week-lolasana.html">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Lolasana, or pendant pose, is a pose that is used as a "jump back" in ashtanga vinyasa. You know how you see people balancing on their arms, suspending their whole bodies in mid air, and then flowing through to a sitting pose, or chauturanga? Basically you tuck your torso and bent legs, with the ankles crossed, into a tight ball and then raise yourself off the floor using your arms. Once suspended, you rock back and forth a little bit (hence the "pendant" name!). It's a great workout for the arms, chest, upper back and abs. Everything I want to work on this year!<br /><br />I couldn't even get myself up off the ground, even a little bit! I was horrified at how bad my upper body strength is. Doing a few push-ups and tricep dips after my runs clearly isn't cutting it. I eventually conceded defeat with this pose, and watched the teacher Mick and other students work through the pose. As I watched, I decided that 2012 would be the year I improved my upper body and abdominal strength so I can do lolasana!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/media/originals/BASICS_201_intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.yogajournal.com/media/originals/BASICS_201_intro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/2296">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So, you heard it here. <b>Goal #1 for 2012 = upper body and abdominal strength! </b><br /><b></b><br /><b></b><br />I'm slowly learning that not every year needs to be a marathon year, and I'm happy to give my yoga some focus and attention for a while. I'm also going to give Pilates a go - my mates <a href="http://www.foodfairynutrition.com/">The Food Fairies</a> have recommended some DVDs to me, so I'm going to give those a whirl once we get back.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/394436_10150564932702985_667992984_11114658_884113171_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/394436_10150564932702985_667992984_11114658_884113171_a.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><br />But on to <b>Sydney</b> - we had an amazing time and I wish we could have stayed longer! We decided to fly in there from London-Singapore, because I hadn't seen my friends there for so long, and I couldn't go another visit to Australia without seeing them! <br /><br />After a long flight, and a near two hour wait to get our bags (!), we hopped in a taxi to Mary's house. It was amazing to see her again after such a long time, but the years just melted away and it was as if we had never been apart. After a few drinks, we hit the sack and surprisingly had a good six hours sleep before Mary and I headed off to yoga. Tom entertained the cats :)<br /><br />I loved the yoga class - it was peaceful and energising, just what I needed!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMW0FuVSBX8/TwVNZWSDdzI/AAAAAAAADN4/NRxf4dbrWgs/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMW0FuVSBX8/TwVNZWSDdzI/AAAAAAAADN4/NRxf4dbrWgs/s320/IMG_2369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IiwMmH5T0g/TwVNfV4xstI/AAAAAAAADOA/xlWOEJK-T0U/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IiwMmH5T0g/TwVNfV4xstI/AAAAAAAADOA/xlWOEJK-T0U/s320/IMG_2370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrCTswIvNI/TwVNoBk1xgI/AAAAAAAADOI/TphyINj7I6Q/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrCTswIvNI/TwVNoBk1xgI/AAAAAAAADOI/TphyINj7I6Q/s320/IMG_2371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Afterwards, we had a lovely, relaxing walk back to Mary's and then we had arranged to meet all the peeps for lunch at <a href="http://www.bodhi.id.au/">Bodhi Bar </a> which does vegan yum cha - my favourite kind of food :)<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">NB: Some photos by me and Tom, most of them by Mary!</span></i><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3b8S84yjKEs/TwVB9hWYTDI/AAAAAAAADNY/g_OBlWoa5_k/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3b8S84yjKEs/TwVB9hWYTDI/AAAAAAAADNY/g_OBlWoa5_k/s320/IMG_8482.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my girls!! xx</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381553_10150564944217985_667992984_11114709_974906667_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381553_10150564944217985_667992984_11114709_974906667_a.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom and I </td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376104_10150564940272985_667992984_11114688_850236062_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376104_10150564940272985_667992984_11114688_850236062_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom and Dan go beer to beer ;) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385043_10150564219117985_667992984_11111531_756709834_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385043_10150564219117985_667992984_11111531_756709834_n.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satay salad</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392090_10150564239362985_667992984_11111601_668463525_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392090_10150564239362985_667992984_11111601_668463525_n.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br />We had some delicious food, and lots of beer! It was wonderful seeing old friends again, and seeing new friends who felt like old friends :) There was so much to catch up on!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/379924_10150565426947985_667992984_11116502_7550053_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/379924_10150565426947985_667992984_11116502_7550053_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V and I - love Tom laughing in the background! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384890_10150564938427985_667992984_11114674_2036870457_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384890_10150564938427985_667992984_11114674_2036870457_n.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful to meet Chan at last! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We kicked on afterwards at Opera Bar, and then wandered around The Rocks and Circular Quay:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/378020_10150564612182985_667992984_11113043_1338356804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/378020_10150564612182985_667992984_11113043_1338356804_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/386524_10150568741397985_667992984_11133246_209297417_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/386524_10150568741397985_667992984_11133246_209297417_a.jpg" width="241" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/382771_10150564607097985_667992984_11113029_1701421691_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/382771_10150564607097985_667992984_11113029_1701421691_a.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/388501_10150564593097985_667992984_11113005_1127819076_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/388501_10150564593097985_667992984_11113005_1127819076_n.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br />We finally crashed in Pony, where I needed coffee because I was starting to flag big time! An affogato cured all:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VNCzMcqP3w/TwVK7JqknKI/AAAAAAAADNs/C2XaOr6IJ0w/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VNCzMcqP3w/TwVK7JqknKI/AAAAAAAADNs/C2XaOr6IJ0w/s320/IMG_2373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you had an affogato before? It's a strong espresso poured over vanilla ice cream, it's absolutely luscious. The last time I'd had one was when I was about 18, sitting in the cafe at Fuller's Bookshop, pretending to be Juliette Binoche ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tom and I were too jet lagged to continue partying on, so we ended up crashing with pizza and drinks and trying to have an early night....but we were too excited to sleep, because we were off to Hobart the next day! Our plane ended up being delayed by nearly four hours, and we only just made our niece's christening by the skin of our teeth...but that's a story for another day!</div><br />I really love visiting Sydney, it's such a vibrant and exciting place. I love the arty, bohemian feel to some pockets of it; spacious Hyde Park; the sparkling harbour. And around the suburbs, I love seeing the frangipani trees in full bloom this time of year, the fully ripe flowers falling and lying in fragrant piles on the pavements. It's the essence of summer, to me.<br /><br />But the main reason I visit Sydney is for the people. It was wonderful to see my dear friends there again after so long. They truly are some of the greatest people I know and I never tire of their company. What a wonderful, brief 24 hours it was. I must not leave it another four years before coming again! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8F60qU2engk/TwVD7s5HddI/AAAAAAAADNg/_EKDhqAXyHY/s1600/IMG_8448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8F60qU2engk/TwVD7s5HddI/AAAAAAAADNg/_EKDhqAXyHY/s400/IMG_8448.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main reason I love coming to Sydney :) Mwah xxx</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />More soon.....adventures in Hobart! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-4754971722254817793?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-35456907757509524732012-01-04T00:01:00.000Z2012-01-04T00:01:00.334Zmum's shortbread, by request!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Following on from the beat the bloat post yesterday (!) I have been asked for my mum's shortbread recipe, which she tempted me with over Christmas! They are absolutely delightful biscuits - one or two with a cup of tea is a lovely sweet treat. If you can stop at one or two (and I know you can!). All things in moderation, eh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/a76235da35d211e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/a76235da35d211e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Mum's shortbread</b><br /><br />250g unsalted butter<br />3/4 cup icing sugar<br />1 tsp vanilla essence or extract<br />2 cups self raising flour<br />1/2 cup cornflour<br />Pinch of salt<br /><br />Preheat the oven to 180 C (or 160 C fan forced) and then grease and line two baking trays.<br />Beat the butter and icing sugar together until creamy, then add the vanilla.<br />Sift the self raising flour, cornflour and salt together and then add gently to the butter mixture. Use a knife to mix it in, as if you were making scones.<br />Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and place on to the prepared trays, about 5cm apart. Flatten the balls gently with a fork.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/b9522bd835d211e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/b9522bd835d211e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bake in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes or until just starting to colour underneath. The biscuits are meant to be pale on top. <span style="text-align: center;">Leave them on the trays for about 15 minutes to firm up, and then transfer to a rack to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/16aedf7e35e711e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/16aedf7e35e711e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />These are buttery and gorgeous and very moreish! We loved eating them plain, but we also sandwiched them together with some passionfruit curd. <br /><br />I don't know if I can wait until next Christmas to have them again, but it's definitely a once-in-a-while treat! I might also share the fruitcake my sister made, that was absolutely scrumptious too.<br /><br /><b>What's your favourite baking recipe at the moment? </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-3545690775750952473?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-69994567306105192952012-01-03T07:37:00.000Z2012-01-03T07:37:12.447Zbeating the bloat + two recipes!I sometimes wonder how much of my previous life I spent feeling bloated. I say this because back in those days I constantly ate food I wasn't hungry for; my portions would have been enough to feed a family of four; and even though I ate lots of fruit and vegetables and other healthy stuff, I'd think nothing of making a cake and eating the whole thing on my own in the same afternoon, or mindlessly nibbling on a family block of chocolate while reading. To say nothing of all the fizzy drinks I drank - I drank more Diet Coke than water! I hate to think what my stomach must have looked like back then, having to process all that stuff. I do remember feeling uncomfortable in the skin I was in, 99% of the time. I very rarely went to bed hungry, or woke up feeling hungry. I just wanted to eat, all the time. <div><br /></div><div>These days, I really do feel uncomfortable if I've eaten too much or if I've grazed on foods that I don't normally have, which is very easy to do over Christmas and New Year. I do notice it, and know <i>why </i>- because of all the temptation and not being mindful! Doing something about it is another matter! It takes a lot of discipline and resolve to say "no, I'm only going to have things I truly want and the rest of the time I'm going to be conscious about what I'm actually eating." It took me until the day before <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/12/race-report-race-to-taste.html">Race to the Taste</a> to get back on the straight and narrow. My parents' house has been Temptation Central over the last few weeks!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/be8a69822e7d11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/be8a69822e7d11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/5b3ffd942e8511e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/5b3ffd942e8511e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Over Christmas there was a bowl of chocolates constantly on the coffee table; aromas of freshly baked Christmas goodies like shortbread and fruit cake wafting through the air; gorgeous cheeses, turkish breads, dips and pestos; piles of roast rosemary potatoes; ice creams, meringues and berries; piles of croissants; strawberry and peppermint Freddos in my Christmas stocking (!); and a fridge filled with beer! And there still is!! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, what's a girl to do? I'm only human, so I tucked in! But going to bed feeling bloated when you know you have just had your hand in the bowl of chocolates for the sake of it is not fun. So I decided to start being a bit more mindful and not just eat stuff because it's there. Despite the mountains of temptation, my parents also have lots of healthy food! Dad's vegetable garden is a veritable Eden - I've been picking fresh raspberries for my breakfast yoghurt and muesli nearly every morning, and today my little nephew and I enjoyed a ripe and juicy apricot from the tree. He kept opening his mouth for more! </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a lesson I've learned many times over, but there is always a healthy alternative if you want to have it. And I certainly feel better for it, eating fresh and light meals that I'm used to, and that way if I do want shortbread, fruit cake or anything else, I can have it without knowing that it's yet another deposit in the bloating bank! But overall I think it all balances out and I certainly want to enjoy my holiday too. I think I'll enjoy my holiday more if I'm feeling comfortable, and not bloated!</div><div><br /></div><div>So for the past week or so it's all been about freshness and simplicity where possible. I made this delicious variation of <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/07/temple-soup.html">temple soup</a> on New Year's Day:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/1259926635d311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/1259926635d311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's lighter and less flavour-cluttered than temple soup. I call this one <b>Prosperity Soup</b>! Did you know that it is believed that eating a dish with round (ie: coin shaped) food in it on New Year's Day is meant to symbolise prosperity for the coming year? I do hope so :)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Prosperity soup</b></div><div>Serves 4 generously</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>You will need:</div><div><br /></div><div>1 x 250g packet of vermicelli noodles</div><div>4-6 cups vegetable or chicken stock (I used "chicken style" stock which is, amazingly, vegetarian!)</div><div>1 teaspoon soy sauce</div><div>1-2 cups frozen peas</div><div>A selection of fresh vegetables - I used red pepper, asparagus, baby spinach and a yellow courgette (zuchinni)</div><div>Fresh mint, as much as you like</div><div>Fresh Thai basil, as much as you like</div><div><br /></div><div>Put your stock and soy sauce in a stockpot and place on a medium-high heat. Add the frozen peas once the stock has reached boiling point.</div><div>Break the noodles into small pieces - I just snapped the vermicelli bundles in half. </div><div>Chop your vegetables up. If you're using a round vegetable, cut them into round pieces for prosperity!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/d680bb6635d211e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/d680bb6635d211e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Add the vermicelli noodles to the stock, stir around and boil for a few minutes until they are cooked (they don't long).</div><div>Add the vegetables and cook for a few minutes, or until just tender.</div><div>Ladle the soup into bowls and top with fresh mint and Thai basil.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having had my taste-buds blurred by too much sugar recently, I can't tell you how clean and refreshing and beautiful this tasted! Thoroughly recommended if you want something cleansing but satisfying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Today it was gloriously sticky and muggy, perfect salad weather! After a 5k run with Tom and <a href="http://www.lauraismotivated.blogspot.com/">Laura</a> early this morning (22 degrees at 7:30am!) and meeting an old friend for coffee, I made this for a light and delicious lunch:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/4c9d59c635d311e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/4c9d59c635d311e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Chickpea, avocado and carrot salad</b></div><div>Serves 2</div><div><br /></div><div>1 can (420g) chickpeas, drained</div><div>1 large carrot, grated</div><div>2 handfuls of rocket </div><div>1/2 a large avocado, cut into slices</div><div>1 handful pine nuts (you can toast them if you like, it was too hot to stand over a stove today!)</div><div>Fresh parsley, mint and Thai basil (or other fresh herbs of your choice), chopped</div><div>Kalamata olives (optional)</div><div>Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, to taste </div><div><br /></div><div>Mix the chickpeas, grated carrot, rocket, avocado, pine nuts, fresh herbs and olives (if using) together in a salad bowl. Dress with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to taste. Serve immediately! You could accompany this with grilled haloumi, toasted turkish bread, a piece of roasted vegetable frittata, or any other lean protein.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/81116be835d311e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/81116be835d311e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'd forgotten how much better I feel when I eat well and consciously. Remember, there's always a healthy alternative if you want to have it. Have your treats, but if you're feeling sluggish because of too many Cherry Ripes, remember the only person who can turn it around is <b>you</b>!</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you're all having a bloat-free start to your New Year! :) </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6999456730610519295?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-64401371256704621042012-01-02T11:13:00.000Z2012-01-02T11:13:02.675Zi'm ready for my close-up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's 2012! Happy new year!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you enjoyed seeing the new year in. I personally go for much more low key new year celebrations these days - although if I were invited out on a yacht on Sydney Harbour I wouldn't turn it down ;) We had a barbecue, dancing, drinking....and while the boys played on the Wii, my sister dragged out the old Babysitters Club board game (does anyone else remember that?!) which was hilarious. Made much more hilarious with copious amounts of sparkling wine. We ended up just reading out the purple cards, as they were the silliest! We cheered and toasted at midnight, but with two sleeping babies in the house the frivolity couldn't go on indefinitely, so we hit the mattresses soon after! Next morning there was the smell of coffee and cute baby cuddles to revive me, and my brother-in-law fired up the barbecue for a new year breakfast. It was a lovely way to start 2012!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I got back to "work" and did a cooking video that will be appearing on Weight Watchers UK soon! It was about 30 degrees here today so I hope I didn't look like too much of a sweaty mess! I prepped and chopped all the ingredients first, and then my cameraman (aka Tom!) got to work! I now understand why those 5 minute cooking segments on lifestyle shows take something like 8 hours to film - it took ages!! The raw files are now with Tom to edit so hopefully it will look ok! Whenever I'm cooking alone at home, I usually start talking to myself and pretending that I'm on a cooking show...but the minute the camera came out today I of course got very shy and self conscious - typical!! I cooked a warm haloumi and bean salad that is from the new WW cookbook <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/shop/pub/index.aspx">The Complete Kitchen</a>. I must have been insane to do it in this heat, but when haloumi is involved nothing can stop me, short of a straitjacket!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4F1NUW6e74/TwF9h07JadI/AAAAAAAADMw/dKaX6Wrf3Ng/s1600/DSCN6021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4F1NUW6e74/TwF9h07JadI/AAAAAAAADMw/dKaX6Wrf3Ng/s400/DSCN6021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofYCwsVuZhg/TwF_CpAqYwI/AAAAAAAADM4/32zcEoTVWy8/s1600/DSCN6015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofYCwsVuZhg/TwF_CpAqYwI/AAAAAAAADM4/32zcEoTVWy8/s400/DSCN6015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMDO9NzML1U/TwGAIicWDtI/AAAAAAAADNA/S7gIY8xsprc/s1600/DSCN6027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMDO9NzML1U/TwGAIicWDtI/AAAAAAAADNA/S7gIY8xsprc/s400/DSCN6027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />It is absolutely delicious. I have another video to do yet, which I think will be something sweet and preferably something that doesn't involve an oven!! I'll let you know once the videos are live, and share the recipes of course!<br /><br />I was also featured in Hobart's daily newspaper <a href="http://www.themercury.com.au/">The Mercury </a>today - on page 7! The shops are still open so you can still go and grab yourself a copy if you're local! Otherwise you can read the article <a href="http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/01/02/289021_tasmania-news.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/130c5c86352c11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/130c5c86352c11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was lots of fun! It was all arranged late last week so I wasn't sure when the story was going to run - it was a nice surprise when Dad knocked on the door this morning, copy of the paper in hand!<br /><br />I hope you've all started the year with good intentions, high hopes and high spirits. I am really enjoying being home, and in a weird way being here has made the clocking-over of a new year really feel like a new beginning. I'm feeling very positive about all that lies ahead. While I tend to shy away from new years resolutions and the like, I find that January 1st does tend to get me thinking about goals, plans, dreams and where I might want to be in six months or a years time. I don't think you need to wait for the new year, Monday, next week, or next month to set goals and change your life. You can change your life any time. You can change your life <b>right now</b>. <br /><br />I look forward to sharing more dreams, goals and plans for 2012 with you all! For now I intend to continue enjoying the sunshine, my family and friends, and let the good times roll!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/64deeab4333e11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/64deeab4333e11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Might have to change the name of this blog to Iced Latte for the time being!<br />These are pretty good ;) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />More soon! xx<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6440137125670462104?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-85821766767913254052012-01-02T01:45:00.001Z2012-01-02T01:45:00.558Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/175534650_jbu2zPQK_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/175534650_jbu2zPQK_c.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/175534650/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8582176676791325405?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-86228523998026607452011-12-31T08:34:00.000Z2011-12-31T08:34:32.587Zi'm going to party like it's 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/1d4bf612335011e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/1d4bf612335011e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me having a coffee of some sort (!) in Hobart yesterday!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I can hardly believe it's New Year's Eve, and the last few hours of 2011 are trickling away.<br /><br />What a year!! I seem to have crammed five years worth of stuff into 11 months and 30 days! I've gone to places I only ever dreamed of, and have come out the other side of challenges I used to think were beyond me. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, my 2011 highlights have definitely been :<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaSZOVLFKRE/TayM5aTpVfI/AAAAAAAACwg/5exxd4uTx7k/s1600/MarathonPhil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaSZOVLFKRE/TayM5aTpVfI/AAAAAAAACwg/5exxd4uTx7k/s320/MarathonPhil.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/04/dial-m-for-marathon-race-report-virgin.html">The marathon!</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t6wIsngxdEA/TgOw-rWFemI/AAAAAAAABFU/8ps7NG_zjNI/s1600/IMG_6446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t6wIsngxdEA/TgOw-rWFemI/AAAAAAAABFU/8ps7NG_zjNI/s320/IMG_6446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/06/india-part-1.html">India</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hXFLKWNCYBE/Tk-dYPtl2oI/AAAAAAAAC0o/05T4KghAYyA/s1600/a-novel-by-Philippa-Moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hXFLKWNCYBE/Tk-dYPtl2oI/AAAAAAAAC0o/05T4KghAYyA/s320/a-novel-by-Philippa-Moore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/08/birth-announcement.html">Finishing the first draft of my book</a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa-FG8K_6Y8/Tqla5c6YZ3I/AAAAAAAADAI/C2-e87QJ2sg/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa-FG8K_6Y8/Tqla5c6YZ3I/AAAAAAAADAI/C2-e87QJ2sg/s320/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/10/skinny-on-cosmo-blog-awards.html">The Cosmo Blog Awards</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagr.am/p/SFlti/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://instagr.am/p/SFlti/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/09/how-to-break-out-of-running-routine-rut.html">Moving to the country</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/c6756eac335111e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/c6756eac335111e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/388877_10150516710115479_704710478_10969529_1597997159_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/388877_10150516710115479_704710478_10969529_1597997159_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/e3afc626335011e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/e3afc626335011e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Seeing my friends and family in Australia again, and meeting new arrivals :) </div><br /><br />So, in some ways I'm sorry 2011 is over because it's been a life changing year in every sense of the word - the highs have been dizzy-ingly so; but, at the same time, there have been a few lows, which haven't been much fun. There have been a lot of changes, and more changes still ahead. But I'm excited about all of that. You can't have one without the other and it's important not to get complacent about things. Many times this year I've been at the edge of a cliff, metaphorically speaking (!), where the choice was be pushed, or jump. I chose to jump.<br /><br />So it's been a year of extremes for me, I'd say! I've learned a lot about the importance of living in the moment, and being brave enough to take leaps of faith. The good has definitely outweighed the not-so-good, and I'm really happy to be heading into 2012 and excited about what lies ahead. Right now I'm staring down a road I've needed to travel for a long time. And the time is now! Bring it on!!<br /><br /><b>Thank you </b>for reading SLSB this year, and for giving me your constant support, love and encouragement. It really does mean the world to me. There is SO much to come in 2012 that I can't wait to share with you all. Life is such an adventure and I love having you along for the ride. Fasten your seatbelt!<br /><br />So here's me raising a virtual cocktail to you all - wishing you a happy and safe clocking-over to January 1st. To life, to dreams, to adventure! <br /><br /><b>Cheers! See you next year! xx</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8622852399802660745?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-6416602457197992512011-12-29T10:13:00.000Z2011-12-29T10:13:32.983Zrace report: race to the tasteI'm sure most people would say you either have to be crazy or truly dedicated to go in a fun run three days after Christmas. I'm a little from column A and a little from column B! :)<br /><br />Today I participated in the annual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/326501074031092/">Hartz Race to the Taste fun run</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/66b8809e31a311e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/66b8809e31a311e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />One of the biggest events in Hobart each year is the <a href="http://www.tastefestival.com.au/">Taste of Tasmania</a>, an annual food and wine festival on the waterfront that opens to coincide with the end of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and runs for about a week, closing just after the new year. 3000 people went through the gates in the first 20 minutes today, apparently! It's pretty popular! To begin the festivities, there is a fun run that starts at Hobart's Domain Athletics centre and ends at the waterfront where the festival is held. It's 6km and goes through bushland around the Domain, Botanical Gardens, Soldier's Walk and then down the main artery of Davey Street along Constitution Dock towards Salamanca Place.<br /><br />I had planned all year to do this race, but two days prior to Christmas, with most of my family afflicted with gastro and Tom and I unable to leave our bed because of being struck down with particularly bad jet lag, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do it at all, hence why I decided to just try my luck and rock up on the day to register! Lots of other people had the same idea :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/340d426031a311e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/340d426031a311e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1370904886"></span><span id="goog_1370904887"></span><br /><br />I did the race with two old friends - <a href="http://blog.chuq.net/">Chuq</a> and <a href="http://www.lauraismotivated.blogspot.com/">Laura</a> - and we made a great team! It was lovely having people to chat to and get a bit of encouragement on the hilly bits (thankfully all at the beginning!)<br /><br />It was a warm but breezy day (the breeze disappeared once the race started though!) and Tom filmed me giving my thoughts as we waited on the hill with the mountain in the background. <i>I will upload the video when Blogger stops being annoying :)</i><br /><br />As usual I was hit by the toilet nerves and waited in a nervous line to use the ladies - I hate the smell of toilets on a race day, it's quite nauseating! :P<br /><br />Then it was time to head to the start - after the traditional starter's gun (I hadn't heard one of those for ages!) we did one lap of the Domain (400m) and then headed out of the carpark, and up to Cleary's Gates, and then down towards the city. The first 2km were on a steady incline, which then went downhill, and then uphill again when we hit Soldier's Walk.<br /><br />Considering I hadn't run for a few weeks, I was very happy with the pace - I'm really not speedy at all, all I care about is that the pace is steady, everything is working as it should and there are no breathing or knee/ankle dramas, and that I don't have to stop. So this race was a success!!<br /><br />It was a beautiful day, and it was lovely running through the bushland roads and tracks around the Domain. I hadn't been up there for years and years. The lovely breeze I'd felt when wandering around before the race had disappeared by now, however, and I was starting to feel very hot, like a fireball! My face was starting to sting slightly too. I was glad I had <i>slathered </i>on the sunscreen, and was wearing my lucky hat! <br /><br />There was an ambulance that was on my, Chuq's and Laura's heels at one point along the Cleary's Gates bit, and we kept moving over so it could pass, but it seemed to take its sweet time! When we thought it had finally passed us and we were free to enjoy the open trail, it turned out it was stuck at the entrance to Soldier's Walk! D'oh!<br /><br />There was another incline on Soldier's Walk, and then a steady downhill run into the city. It was heavenly running underneath the overpass, in the shade, for a glorious ten seconds, and then we headed down Davey Street towards Constitution Dock and the finish. At this stage we had to dodge some eager Taste goers at the traffic lights! And then finally we headed around Mawson Place, and then down Morrison Street towards Salamanca, and then we saw the bright blue finish! I then decided to have a sprint finish (Chuq and I were even at this stage!) and headed off! I almost ran into a marshall on the other side, ha ha!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/8a4e632031a311e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/8a4e632031a311e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />But we were finished! Yay! My first race on home turf...ever!! Considering I was a bit out of condition, I was pleased with my time - 39 minutes and 19 seconds! Faster than marathon pace :)<br /><br />Tom was there to meet me at the finish line, as were Chuq and Laura's family. Tom managed to find his way from the Domain to Salamanca all on his own, I was impressed! Then we wandered up to Mures for a post race ice cream. It was all I felt like in the heat!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/a843771c31a311e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/a843771c31a311e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm still in two minds about doing one of the Cadbury races in a few weeks time....hmmm....the promise of chocolate at the finish line is one dangly carrot!<br /><br /><b>How are you all holding up after Christmas? Has anyone else braved a fun run?! :) xx</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-641660245719799251?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-37286814118999339422011-12-26T02:24:00.000Z2011-12-26T02:24:00.263Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747725552_b7tBwXbG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747725552_b7tBwXbG_c.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/153755774747725552/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-3728681411899933942?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-86190482133275956672011-12-24T01:32:00.002Z2011-12-24T01:35:14.791Zwhite wine in the sun<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/dfa484302dca11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/dfa484302dca11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family's Christmas tree! Complete with a six pack ;) </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Greetings from Oz!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous sunny Christmas here - after only a week I already have a tan.....well, a tan with a reddish tinge to it (whoops!)....and after a horrendous bout of jet lag that let Tom and I bedridden for a whole day, I finally feel normal and rested and ready to enjoy my first Christmas Down Under since 2006.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Being back here has been wonderful so far (apart from Jetstar delays and aforementioned jetlag!)and it has made me realise how much I miss my friends and family. The time we've been apart has melted away and it's as though I've never been away. I am so grateful and blessed to have them. I already know that leaving will be very hard!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Report on our brief 24 hour stop in Sydney coming soon (it was fabulous!) but for now here's <b>cheers </b>to you and yours this holiday season. Whatever you're doing, however you're celebrating, whether it's snowing, sunny or somewhere in between......I wish you joy, love and happiness. And a sleigh full of chocolate.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Right now, I'm off to have a white wine in the sun. With my mum....and Tom :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374030_150313715068313_141247635974921_165013_503311939_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374030_150313715068313_141247635974921_165013_503311939_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Merry Christmas my friends!! xxx</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fCNvZqpa-7Q" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8619048213327595667?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-39350429365849078922011-12-19T07:11:00.000Z2011-12-19T07:11:00.188Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/404840800_jMUpb06b_c.jpg" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/404840800/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-3935042936584907892?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-72145179386146632462011-12-15T12:45:00.000Z2011-12-15T12:45:01.057Zlong haul essentials #2: coming back<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/32228953552977540_l045CdGC_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/32228953552977540_l045CdGC_c.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/32228953552977540_l045CdGC_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />By the time this is published, I'll be in the air!! :)<br /><br />Not only have I prepared myself for the long haul flight ahead, but I've also had to think ahead about what essentials to have in place when we get home, at about 6am, where exhaustion will be a given and home comforts will be the only remedy.<br /><br />When coming back home from a trip that has involved a long haul flight, I recommend preparing your home as follows so you can just <i>flop </i>when you get in!<br /><br /><b>1. Fresh bedding</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/172755335675728133_1d3q7fEA_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/172755335675728133_1d3q7fEA_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bed SO doesn't look like this! :P </td></tr></tbody></table><br />If you can, make your bed with clean sheets the day before or the morning of your departure. Getting into a nice clean bed when you return is just what you'll be needing! You don't want to get into scuzzy old sheets with tea stains on them! :) Ditto clean towels.<br /><br /><b>2. Stock the freezer</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/253046072782402965_eSHXGlRb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/253046072782402965_eSHXGlRb_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My freezer is not this neat or organised either! ;) </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Have a loaf of bread in the freezer, and maybe one or two frozen meals, depending on what time you get in. At least if you have some bread in the freezer you can make yourself some toast when you get in. I love the smell of toast cooking, it breathes some life back into your cold, empty house!<br /><br /><b>3. White no sugar</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/201254677067699085_xA9rylcf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/201254677067699085_xA9rylcf_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/201254677067699085_xA9rylcf_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Have some tea on hand, and a carton of soy or long-life milk in the pantry. That way you can make yourself a cup of tea once you've put your bags down and taken your shoes off, and don't have to rush off to the shops straight away.<br /><br /><b>4. Loo rolls</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/232005818273369602_QaPTNYZP_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/232005818273369602_QaPTNYZP_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/232005818273369602/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Make sure you have enough toilet paper in the house - don't leave with only a few squares left on the roll! If you can't remember if you have enough or not, grab a stash of tissues on the plane :)<br /><br /><br />These tips should at least get you through the first day, until you feel human enough to resurface and head out into civilisation and brave the hordes at your local Sainsbury's......or start unpacking :P<br /><br /><b>What are your tips for an easy, stress-free homecoming?</b><br /><br />Happy and safe travels if you're heading somewhere this holiday season! See you when I hit Oz! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-7214517938614663246?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-91917276291981771292011-12-14T19:43:00.000Z2011-12-14T19:43:23.567Zlong haul essentials #1: going<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/147563325260145005_JD3XeSuD_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/147563325260145005_JD3XeSuD_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/147563325260145005_JD3XeSuD_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Hello my friends! Can you believe Tom and I head off to Australia <b><i>tomorrow?!<br /></i></b><br />The past 24 hours has been a mad rush of getting organised for the trip. At the moment our living room is a mess of bags as we try to cram in gifts for family and friends and enough clothes and shoes to tide us over until I can hit Big W for some cheap summer essentials at the other end. It's been hard getting our heads around packing for warmer weather when we've walked home in sleet for the last two nights! <br /><br />This will be the third time I've done this trip in the past four years, and I've picked up a few tips that make the never ending stretch of hours on a plane a bit more bearable. I thought I'd share my long haul essentials with you. I'd love to hear your tips too, from you frequent flyers out there!<br /><br /><b>1. Comfortable clothes</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/247627679480781616_jeSBz8Dg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/247627679480781616_jeSBz8Dg_c.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/272397477431285013_jEdFnW7R_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/272397477431285013_jEdFnW7R_c.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/214624738461418703_faRorwQs_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/214624738461418703_faRorwQs_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Now is not the time for skinny jeans. If I could wear pyjamas on this kind of flight, I probably would! My outfit of choice is yoga pants, layers of light cotton tops, topped off with a warm cardigan or jumper. Comfort is the key word here. Don't worry about looking a bit daggy, there are no papparazzi waiting at the other end for you!! Have some killer sunglasses or a nice handbag to offset the dagginess if need be ;)<br /><br /><b>2. Tiger Balm and Rescue Remedy</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/183803228511633034_9BuZ2RJz_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/183803228511633034_9BuZ2RJz_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/183803228511633034/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Having always had dodgy ear drums, I find Tiger Balm a wonderful astringent for clearing the airways (nose and ears!) on a long flight. You can sniff it straight from the jar or put some on a hanky or tissue and breathe in. You could also use olbus oil.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/10766486578749057_Y8BNiYCB_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/10766486578749057_Y8BNiYCB_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/10766486578749057_Y8BNiYCB_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I don't find flying stressful - it's more the whole getting <i>to </i>the airport and getting checked in, through security and <i>on </i>the plane that stresses me out - but it's nice to have something calming readily at hand if I need it. I'm a big fan of Bach's Rescue Remedy. I have needed a drop under the tongue at bed time nearly every night for the last month (a story for another day) and I don't know why it works, but it seems to do the trick for me. Before I discovered it, I used to take a small bottle of lavender oil on a long flight with me. Lavender is one of my favourite smells in the world, and it is a lovely, comforting thing to inhale when you're feeling a bit stressed out.<br /><br /><b>3. Books</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/219972763018901090_D4zf97e3_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/219972763018901090_D4zf97e3_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/219972763018901090/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I never travel without a book! I read books very quickly so usually have to take 2 or 3 with me for a flight of this length which can be a pain when it comes to finding space in your carry on. And then what do you do when you've read them? What you can do is get a few books from your local charity shop - where you can find books for something ridiculous like 40p! - that you can read and enjoy on the flight, and then you can pass on once you're at your destination. <br /><br /><b>4. Writing implements</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/186758715767067468_Rn3lLOWl_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/186758715767067468_Rn3lLOWl_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/186758715767067468/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Journal and pen, and my netbook will be with me, it's a given. Make sure it's not one of those pens liable to leak easily, and that your laptop is fully charged!<br /><br /><b>5. iPod or music player</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/72690981455089256_3iRUPDrL_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/72690981455089256_3iRUPDrL_c.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/72690981455089256_3iRUPDrL_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Fill your iPod or music player with some new tunes. Put on some lovely easy listening music on that helps your mind wander. Or you could download heaps of interesting podcasts to keep you entertained. One of my favourites is <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/sites/conversations/">Conversations with Richard Fidler, from ABC Australia</a>. <br /><br /><b>6. Treats</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/278660295663158290_X8kL4iJw_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/278660295663158290_X8kL4iJw_c.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/278660295663158290_X8kL4iJw_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>On my last flight from Melbourne to Singapore, I had a big bag of Twisties and a giant Melanie LaBrooy novel to keep me entertained. I was fully occupied for the entire 8 hour flight! Well, the Twisties only lasted the first hour....<br /><br />I think it's essential to have something to look forward to on the plane so go on and get yourself something nice to enjoy to make those long hours go just a little bit faster - a travel sized glossy magazine perhaps, a book you've been waiting to read, or a box of Lindt chocolates from duty free :P<br /><br /><b>7. Order a vegetarian or gluten free meal</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/264093965618367578_46HQf6nH_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/264093965618367578_46HQf6nH_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/264093965618367578_46HQf6nH_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><br />It's brilliant because 1) it's always healthier and usually chock full of vegetables, salad and fruit and 2) you get served first! And drink lots of water. It's tempting to load up on all the free booze, but you'll pay for it at the other end! Start the flight with a nice drink if you want (depending on the time of day of course) but keep drinking water to keep hydrated.<br /><br /><b>8. Do yoga at the back of the plane</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/175358979210347312_uS9zlxaB_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/175358979210347312_uS9zlxaB_c.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source</td></tr></tbody></table>Maybe not quite at the level in this photo (!) but I do recommend getting up and walking around. Do some stretches at the back of the plane while waiting for the loo. Uttanasana (standing forward bend) and a modified version of dancer can be done in a small amount of space! It really does make a difference.<br /><br /><b>9. Make friends</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/17521886019831978_dBzBaowe_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/17521886019831978_dBzBaowe_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/17521886019831978_dBzBaowe_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Admittedly, some people just want to put their headphones in and not emerge until the end of the flight, but it's nice to strike up conversations with your fellow passengers, particularly if you're travelling alone. It can make the time absolutely disappear! <br /><br /><b>10. Baby wipes, hair brush, tooth brush and moisturiser</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/104779128800081790_4Wfd5Icl_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/104779128800081790_4Wfd5Icl_c.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/104779128800081790_4Wfd5Icl_c.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>When you're not far from your destination, go to the bathroom and wash your face with warm water - I don't know about you but a hot face washer does wonders for reviving me - and brush your teeth. Come back to your seat and moisturise your face and hands, brush your hair and give yourself a reviving jolt of tiger balm or olbus oil. I've never bothered taking a change of clothes but if you have, change into a fresh t-shirt while in the bathroom too. <br /><br />You normally get a little pack when you arrive at your seat, which contains things like toothbrush and toothpaste, socks, etc, so don't worry about bringing your own unless you really want to. I find travelling with baby wipes is very useful. They can mop up spillages on your tray or on your clothes, remove makeup, or be used to refresh your face, neck and hands. <br /><br /><b>11. A good attitude</b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/121667627402743752_b7dDViAa_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/121667627402743752_b7dDViAa_c.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.nubegreen.com/index.php?product=AFP-HOM-LBN&shop=1&c=81.93">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It amazes me how grumpy some people can get when they travel. A long haul flight usually does test your patience; even the most seasoned of travellers find themselves antsy and cranky sometimes. It does sometimes feel like you're <i>never </i>going to get there. But it is only a temporary situation, and something you have to do in order to get what you want (a holiday in an exciting place, or in my case, seeing my family and friends again for the first time in years!). Remember, everyone on your plane has the same goal, to get to the other end. So try and plaster a smile on your face if you can, even if it's the last thing you feel like doing. It really does help. <br /><br />Sometimes you get a shit seat or get stuck next to a misery guts and there's usually not much you can do about it. All you can do is settle back, try and relax and think about all the fun you're going to have at your destination. Don't rise to any bait - if people are being rude or unhelpful, counteract it by being extremely polite back. It always works. If it's really that bad, just put your iPod on, order a large gin and tonic, and think about all that is waiting for you at the other end! As in lots of other areas of life, getting through a long haul flight has a lot to do with your mindset and your ability to go with the flow!<br /><br />Well, I'd better get back to my packing. Catch you on the flip side :)<br /><br /><b>What are your long haul essentials?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-9191727629198177129?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-63018297817161209272011-12-12T01:38:00.000Z2011-12-12T01:38:00.713Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/57857081_68NgGxb1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/57857081_68NgGxb1_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/57857081/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6301829781716120927?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-26160870823371197982011-12-07T12:52:00.000Z2011-12-07T12:52:28.543Zskinny scones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O612Ys4b3o0/Tt9Zzy2qprI/AAAAAAAADMk/AKBXlm4hCeM/s1600/672e5b8c1e9f11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O612Ys4b3o0/Tt9Zzy2qprI/AAAAAAAADMk/AKBXlm4hCeM/s320/672e5b8c1e9f11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I do love afternoon tea.<br /><br />When I was growing up, on Sunday afternoons we regularly used to have what my parents dubbed “high tea” which took the place of a proper dinner. Dad regaled us with tales of afternoon teas he remembered from his boyhood in Malawi, and naturally I, with my over-active imagination, delighted in anything that involved pretending we lived somewhere else in another time. Cakes, crisps and sweets were usually involved, but more often than not there would be “party food” too, and sometimes Mum would make scones. The scone days were my favourite days! ;)<br /><br />When we got Austar (what cable TV in Australia was called about 15 years ago, I don’t know what it’s called now!) my mum and I discovered a Kiwi cooking show hosted by <a href="http://joseager.com/">Jo Seagar</a>, who we just loved! In one episode, Jo made a batch of scones with a small pot of cream and lemonade. “I’m going to have to try that,” Mum said, taking down notes. When she pulled her next batch of scones from the oven we were amazed by them! They were fluffy, golden, and light as a feather. Mum always makes them that way now.<br /><br />I really felt like scones on the weekend, but I didn't have any cream. I wondered if yoghurt would do the job just as well? See for yourself:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/5a2aa6cc1eac11e19896123138142014_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/5a2aa6cc1eac11e19896123138142014_6.jpg" /></a></div><br />They were delicious and fruity, with the addition of a fruit yoghurt and jam. Scrumptious! And the "cream" on top is not cream, because as you know I didn't have any, but thick and delicious <a href="http://www.totalgreekyoghurt.com/home/default.aspx">Total Greek Yoghurt</a>! I can attest it is a delicious topping for scones, so creamy, with a lovely tang. You could add some vanilla extract to it if you wanted it to be sweeter.<br /><br />But whatever you choose to put on top, these scones were absolutely delicious. I suggest serving with your choice of jam and cream (or thick yoghurt as I did), and of course your favourite tea!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><b>Skinny rhubarb and strawberry scones</b><br /><br />4 cups self-raising flour (or 4 cups plain flour, with 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder per cup of flour)<br />Pinch salt<br />2 tbs strawberry jam<br />300 ml low fat rhubarb yoghurt<br />300 ml lemonade<br /><br />Preheat oven to 220 C. Sift flour and salt into a bowl.<br />Add the jam, yoghurt and lemonade all at once and mix well - the dough will be fairly wet but don’t worry too much, just flour your bench well!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/XUVnX/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/XUVnX/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Turn out the dough and gently knead into a square shape about 2 cms (1") thick.<br />Cut into shapes and cook about 18 minutes until they are golden brown.<br /><br />This made a “baker’s dozen” (13) large scones. I found that, fresh out of the oven, the bottoms of the scones were a bit chewy but that’s probably because of the sugars in the yoghurt, jam and lemonade. Perhaps they would be better made with soda water and natural yoghurt instead? I will keep experimenting. However, two days later the scones were not as chewy on the bottom and a bit softer. So it just depends on your taste. Perhaps I had too firm a hand with the dough as well. Either way they were delicious so I'm not complaining :P<br /><br />You could use any yoghurt you like in place of the rhubarb yoghurt. You can also mix up the jam as well, such as:<br /><br />Strawberry yoghurt and rhubarb jam<br />Coconut yoghurt and raspberry jam<br />Vanilla yoghurt and blackcurrant jam<br /><br /><a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/6036/lemonade+scones">The original recipe</a> (I found a similar one online, Jo Seager's web site doesn't have the recipe on it) calls for cream, which you could of course also use.<br /><br />My favourite bit was the lovely little blobs of jam in the scones, warm or cold - they were a lovely fruity surprise! <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/908a448e1eac11e19896123138142014_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/908a448e1eac11e19896123138142014_6.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><b>What's your favourite thing to have for afternoon tea? Do you find yoghurt a good substitute for cream in recipes?</b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-2616087082337119798?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-61654625511610964682011-12-05T06:00:00.007Z2011-12-05T06:00:08.222Zskinny latte strikes back podcast, episode 6: interview with martin yelling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/a87c45ce1dee11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/a87c45ce1dee11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I thoroughly enjoyed talking to my guest on Episode 6 of the podcast - <a href="http://www.yellingperformance.com/Info/Who-we-are.htm">Martin Yelling</a>; runner, coach, speaker, writer, proud husband and father, and all round great guy. We talked about being "goal itchy", how to stay motivated during the colder months, how to cope with injury, and much more. I love his philosophy that "we can't be brilliant every day, and every day can't be brilliant" - great advice for us all! <br /><br />If you want to keep yourself motivated over the winter check out <a href="http://marathontalk.com/challenges/spring_motivation.php">Marathon Talk's Jantastic programme</a>, where you can set yourself some weekly targets, chat to people who are also trying to stay fit and enthusiastic over the colder months, and you can also win some great prizes.<br /><br />Thank you again <a href="http://www.yellingperformance.com/Info/Who-we-are.htm">Martin</a> for being such a great guest!! I hope you all enjoy this episode.<br /><br />You can listen to the podcast here:<br /><div><object align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,0,0" height="25" id="mp3playerdarksmallv3" width="210"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-audio-video-blog-player/mp3playerdarksmallv3.swf?audioPath=http://skinnylatte.podbean.com/mf/play/m6vj49/SkinnyLatteStrikesBackPodcastEpisode6-MartinYelling.mp3&autoStart=no" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <embed src="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-audio-video-blog-player/mp3playerdarksmallv3.swf?audioPath=http://skinnylatte.podbean.com/mf/play/m6vj49/SkinnyLatteStrikesBackPodcastEpisode6-MartinYelling.mp3&autoStart=no" quality="high" width="210" height="25" name="mp3playerdarksmallv3" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed> </object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.podbean.com/" style="border-bottom: none; color: #2da274; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 41px; text-decoration: none;">Podcast Powered By Podbean</a></div><br />Or <a href="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-download?b=333183&f=http://skinnylatte.podbean.com/mf/web/m6vj49/SkinnyLatteStrikesBackPodcastEpisode6-MartinYelling.mp3"><b>download</b></a><br /><br />You can also click on <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/p/podcasts.html">the podcasts page</a> to see all previous episodes of the Skinny Latte Strikes Back podcast.<br /><br />Have a fabulous and motivating week everyone xx<br /><br />PS: I hope you like the podcast logo - <a href="http://www.insidemyfred.wordpress.com/">Tom</a> designed it!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6165462551161096468?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-10123685918304736112011-12-05T00:00:00.000Z2011-12-05T00:00:02.087Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747708265_san3d192_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/153755774747708265_san3d192_c.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/153755774747708265/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1012368591830473611?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-51424636157323533252011-12-03T22:02:00.000Z2011-12-03T22:02:41.503Zpostcards from the weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/a30ac55e1dec11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/a30ac55e1dec11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushrooms for breakfast</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/ce012d8e1dec11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/ce012d8e1dec11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favourite morning pick me up</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/ea8e068e1dec11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/ea8e068e1dec11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last veggie box for 2011! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/17288bb01ded11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/17288bb01ded11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bowl of leftover soup and a brand new cookbook!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/406133881ded11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/406133881ded11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted almonds were a surprisingly yummy soup topper</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage9.instagram.com/7d273a561ded11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage9.instagram.com/7d273a561ded11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A working chai</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/XKQCW/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/XKQCW/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currently reading</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/XKQmr/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/XKQmr/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom & ale pie with "skinny" colcannon mash<br />("skinny" as in made without heaps of butter!)</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/2b245ad01dee11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/2b245ad01dee11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessert!</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/a87c45ce1dee11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/a87c45ce1dee11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting the finishing touches on the Martin Yelling interview<br />- it's just about ready and sounds great!!</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><br /><b>How is your weekend going?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-5142463615732353325?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-65292998113660387012011-12-01T21:04:00.000Z2011-12-01T21:04:34.300Zwinter warmerHappy December to you all! :)<br /><br />I love the first of each month. It has a freshness about it, even if it's grey and yucky outside. The entire month is before us, like a new blank journal, untainted, unknown, and waiting to be filled. The beginning of a new month always feels like a new start. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/WBHCW/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/WBHCW/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />Speaking of new things, I recently tried this recipe for the first time and it was an absolute winner! It will definitely be a winter staple for us....well, for the next two weeks....and then maybe February! <br /><br />Snaffled from my essential Wednesday read <i><a href="http://www.stylist.co.uk/">Stylist</a></i>, I adapted this recipe to be vegetarian and vegan friendly. Oh my, is it delicious. Comfort food at its best. Serve it with a pile of mash and a glass of good red wine!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ5EHbxbpUo/TtfhS98IIVI/AAAAAAAADMc/sE04p4Q6Gqc/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ5EHbxbpUo/TtfhS98IIVI/AAAAAAAADMc/sE04p4Q6Gqc/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Chilli chickpea and veggie sausage casserole</b><br />Adapted from <a href="http://www.stylist.co.uk/">Stylist</a><br />Serves 6<br /><br /><i>You will need:</i><br />Olive oil<br />1 large onion or leek, finely sliced<br />3 garlic cloves, crushed (you can use as much garlic as you like, great for warding off colds!)<br />1 small chilli, finely chopped, or 3/4 teaspoon dried chilli flakes<br />2 boxes/packets of vegetarian/vegan sausages (12 in total) [I use Linda McCartney, they are the best veggie sausages ever]<br />2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika<br />1 x 425g cans organic chickpeas<br />1 x 25g tin tomato puree<br />1 x 370g pouch chopped tomatoes<br />100ml wine (red or white)<br />250ml vegetable stock, plus more if needed<br />1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar<br />Salt and pepper<br />Fresh parsley, roughly chopped<br />Spinach, roughly chopped<br /><br /><i>Method:</i><br /><br />Preheat the oven to 180 C/Gas Mark 4/375 F.<br /><br />Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a large casserole pan (treat yourself to a Le Creuset if you haven't already) over medium high heat. Add the onion, chilli and garlic, cook until softened and golden, then add the sausages. They don't need to be browned like meat sausages, but just coated in all the oniony chilli oily goodness. Cook for about a minute then add the drained chickpeas, paprika, tomato puree, wine, stock, vinegar and seasoning. Mix well.<br /><br />Cover and place in the oven for about 45 minutes. Check and add more stock if it gets dry.<br /><br />Stir in the parsley and spinach just before serving so the spinach wilts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xCDmVc6xMx8/TtfhQq6kI7I/AAAAAAAADMU/gpjWcQ_tlOo/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xCDmVc6xMx8/TtfhQq6kI7I/AAAAAAAADMU/gpjWcQ_tlOo/s320/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I loved this dish - it was so warming and savoury, with just the right kick from the chilli. I made a sweet potato mash to go with it, but I imagine it would be delicious with anything!! And you could of course make these with meat sausages, but you would have to brown them first before you did the onions and then follow the rest of the recipe.<br /><br />Utterly, utterly scrumptious. I won't miss the cold, the need for gloves and scarf, and the unrelenting darkness of the nights when I go to Oz in two weeks time, but I will miss food like this!<br /><br /><b>What is your favourite winter comfort food? </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6529299811366038701?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-37483413925399155032011-11-30T10:29:00.000Z2011-11-30T10:29:50.866Zthe path to freedom<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/c795bdb4192011e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/c795bdb4192011e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A path on the hill Tom and I climbed on Sunday!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The other day, I was cleaning out a drawer at work and found one of my <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/11/tuesday-treats.html">special foil wrapped chocolate biscuits</a>. I put it in my handbag, thinking I might have it on the train home. Fast forward to the weekend, and I found it still in there! I’d completely forgotten about it! After all this time, I’m still quite amazed that I can do that. That I can completely switch off around food and it just isn’t a big deal. If I want it, I can have it. If I don’t feel like it, I just forget about it. <br /><br />Prior to six years ago, the picture was very different. <br /><br />There was a time when a block of chocolate would not last the night in my company. Where a giant 4 litre tub of ice cream would be gone in a weekend. Where a six pack of cinnamon doughnuts would not survive the 10 minute drive from the supermarket to home. Whenever these things were within my easy reach, they would not last. If I knew they were in the house, I couldn’t rest until it was all gone. I would think of nothing else until the packet was empty, the foil licked clean of every crumb of chocolate, the ice cream tub dented in the side from my enthusiastic spoon. Once it was gone, I thought I was safe. The damage was done. I’d start again tomorrow. Or on Monday.<br /><br />It was a pattern I had repeated for most of my life, up to that point. I remember most of my childhood Easters where the haul I got from Easter Bunny was usually demolished by lunchtime on Easter Sunday. Ditto Christmas chocolates and treats. Other people seemed able to “save” theirs, but I couldn’t. I would go out of my mind, unable to concentrate or think of anything else. I don’t know if it was as simple as just being greedy, as some people told me it was. It was just a nice distraction. With all my thoughts being monopolised by food, either the stuff that was right in front of me or waiting in the cupboard or the freezer for me, there wasn’t the time or energy to focus on other thoughts and feelings that weren’t particularly nice or comfortable. Far from being out of control, this behaviour and way of thinking was possibly the only control I had.<br /><br />But it had its drawbacks, obviously. <br /><br />In April 2005, as you all know, I started to unpack all of this chocolate coated baggage. That was what made it different from all the other times I’d tried and failed to lose some weight and get some illusion of control. I actually wanted to understand why I did the things I did, why these habits were so ingrained and what payoff I was getting from them that ensured I kept doing it even if it wasn’t in my best interests. I wanted to understand why I ate when I wasn’t hungry, why the presence of something “forbidden” had such power over me. Back then the idea of being able to have chocolate in the house and not demolish the whole lot in one go, or having a tub of ice cream and only putting two scoops in a bowl rather than eating it directly from the tub was some kind of bizarre fantasy. But it was going to have to happen somehow if I wanted to shift the extra 27.5kg from my frame. <br /><br />At first, I knew having any of my previous lairs of temptation – chocolate, chips, ice cream – in the house would be too much. I had to minimise any temptation, but I also had to balance that by making sure I didn’t feel deprived, because if I felt that way then my plan would fall on its arse by lunch time, like all the others that had gone before it. So I decided on one treat I could have, and started teaching myself how to plan for it, savour it, and incorporate it into my every day life without feeling deprived or guilty. The treat I decided on was Weight Watchers ice cream, which came in individual portion-controlled little tubs. It was a tiny portion of ice cream, but because it was so small I ate it slowly to make it last, and felt oddly satisfied afterwards. The mind is a funny thing. My brain was happy because I was still eating the whole thing (as I had done with a 2 or 4 litre tub!) but I felt more satiated by that tiny tub. Realising that I didn’t need all that excess was so freeing. I was giddy with pride that I wasn’t as powerless as I believed I was. I enjoyed feeling satisfied, rather than full. I realised that they weren’t the same thing.<br /><br />After about three months of learning to savour and enjoy food, to plan and look forward to treats, and finding that exercise wasn’t the drag I always thought it was, and about 10kg down, somehow a family sized block of chocolate found its way into my house. I kept it in the fridge, rather than the pantry. That made it easier to only break off a row at a time. By this time it was becoming second nature to me to ask “do you really want/need this?” and after nearly a week, only two rows of it had gone. It was a victory. <br /><br />But, of course, the space in my head that all this obsessive thinking had taken up for the best part of 25 years was now clear. There were other things to think about. Things I hadn’t allowed myself to think, or feel, were now right at the surface. Behind this obsession with food, and the self loathing and inertia that accompanied it, was a very deep desire to feel worthy and loved, and to be living a life that I felt mattered. Once I realised that that was what I really wanted, it became harder to ignore it. Being self aware and being oblivious are both painful states of being, but I would rather be on the self aware side of the fence. You have far more power on that side. You are not immune from suffering, far from it, but it’s a more helpful and empowering way of life, I’ve found. You realise that you have the power to shape your beliefs, thoughts and hence your experience. When you are oblivious, that’s when you wake up one day ten years from now and just can’t figure out why you have never done all the things you wanted to do. I think that’s far worse than learning to say no to chocolate and having to sit with some discomfort instead. <br /><br />I have a “treat box” in my house now; a little wicker basket where I keep, as the name suggests, treats. Chocolate perhaps, and Tom keeps his biscuits in there too. If I get given chocolate as a gift, it goes in there, ready for when I might feel like it. But I actually forget about the treat box and its contents most of the time. Again, that is something that gives me a little tickle of delight. If I see my favourite treats on sale, I usually cave and buy 3 for 2 (or whatever) but I know that I can handle having the stuff around and it won’t be a big deal. I trust myself. I trust myself to treat my body with kindness and to listen to what it wants and needs. And occasionally it does need chocolate! :) <br /><br />It feels wonderful to no longer be held to ransom by food and the emotions I tried to smother with it. I enjoy my food and get a great deal of pleasure out of it, but I enjoy it consciously. I also have such an active life now, so any overindulgences can be managed.<br /><br />I don’t get it right all the time. I do sometimes eat when I’m not hungry, or I finish off the block of chocolate even though I only wanted one row, or I can feel my body resisting another bite of whatever’s on my plate and I have it anyway. But it’s really not the end of the world. I think people need to know that. If you cave and don’t make the best choice, it’s really ok. No one thinks you’re dreadful. Just take a step back, see if you can work out what might have triggered it, work out a way you can minimise that happening again and resolve to do it, and then just move on. Don’t start again tomorrow, or on Monday, or after Christmas. Start again at the very next meal.<br /><br />The way I see it, there is no “being good” or “being bad”. There is only behaviour and decisions that will get you what you want, and those that will not. Try to do more of what will get you what you want. Try to do more of what will make you happy. Even if it means being uncomfortable sometimes. <br /><br />I don’t think I have felt deprived once in the past six years. Yet before, when I denied myself nothing, I constantly felt deprived. And resentful. And unhappy. I didn’t realise until I started caring for myself, nourishing and nurturing myself, and living life consciously what a smokescreen all that had been. I had to stop walking other people’s paths. I had to find my own. <br /><br />And what I’ve found along that path beats the hell out of chocolate any day. <br /><br /><b>What are some things you have learned on your path?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-3748341392539915503?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-14710692790742841912011-11-29T20:38:00.001Z2011-11-29T20:43:39.836Zactivate protein power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage8.instagram.com/6660ea601ac811e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage8.instagram.com/6660ea601ac811e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I made a mistake with my last purchase of protein powder. I bought one I'd never tried before that was on special and it's horrible! Well, in smoothies, it's horrible. You could use the sweetest strawberries, the yellowest pineapple and the ripest mango but the presence of this powder makes it all taste like chalk and cardboard! Ugh! Hence I am trying to use it up in other ways!<br /><br />Normally I wouldn't resort to being such a masochist but 1) there is no<i> "not satisfied with this product? Please call 123-456 for a full refund"</i> on the tin, which, note to self, I will look for next time and, in any case, 2) I have mislaid the receipt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/8c6333e41ac811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/8c6333e41ac811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />So I'm trying to use it up and surprisingly, it seems to be ok in baked goods! I saw <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/11/25/last-minute-protein-energy-bars-creamy-holly-nog-smoothie/">Angela's protein energy bar recipe</a> and thought it would be worth a try. I had no crispy rice cereal, so I put in some of my favourite Dorset Cereals full of fibre muesli. It's proven to be a bit of a winner! Lots of coconut, nuts and fudgy raisins and dates lifted this to the next level, especially after being in the freezer. I put in lots of cinnamon and mixed spice too, to help mask the yucky protein powder flavour! Also instead of a seed butter, I used up the last of my Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. So this ended up being a very chocolatey protein slice, probably more appropriate as a pre/post run snack than a substitute breakfast! But it will always do in an emergency, like this morning ;)<br /><br />I refer you to <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/11/25/last-minute-protein-energy-bars-creamy-holly-nog-smoothie/">Angela's excellent original recipe</a>, but this is what I did:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/4c1141141ac811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/4c1141141ac811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Protein power slice</b><br />Based on <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/11/25/last-minute-protein-energy-bars-creamy-holly-nog-smoothie/">Oh She Glows <b></b>Last Minute Protein Energy Bars</a><br /><br /><i>You will need:</i><br />1 cup rolled oats<br />1 cup muesli (or other cereal - something like Curiously Cinnamon would be very nice!)<br />1/2 cup of your favourite protein powder (or one you desperately want to use up, like me!)<br />2 heaped teaspoons cinnamon and/or mixed spice (I did this to hide the taste of the protein powder!)<br />1/2 cup peanut butter, almond butter or other nut or seed butter of your choice <br />1/2 cup pure maple syrup<br />Dash of vanilla extract<br />Pinch of salt<br />1 x 100g bar 85% dark chocolate (I use Green and Blacks)<br />Sesame seeds, to scatter on top<br /><br /><i>Method:</i><br />Mix the oats, muesli, protein powder and cinnamon/spice together.<br />Heat the nut/seed butter, maple syrup and vanilla in a saucepan over low heat until combined.<br />Mix in to the oat mixture. It will be absorbed pretty quickly. Add water if you need more liquid.<br />Spread into a large baking tray lined with baking paper. <br />Melt the dark chocolate and spread a thin layer on top. Scatter with sesame seeds.<br />Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or until hard. Cut into bars and store in the fridge or freezer (I've been keeping mine in the freezer).<br /><br />Yum!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage9.instagram.com/af4706561ac811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage9.instagram.com/af4706561ac811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I recommend serving it straight from the freezer, it gets a bit soft if left for too long.<br /><br />I don't know if I'm going to be able to get through the whole tin of powder in this way.....am I being too much of a martyr, do you think?! Is it better to just chuck it out and cut my losses?!<br /><br />I won't be so much of a cheapskate next time and just get the Solgar one :)<br /><br /><b>Do you use a protein powder? Any disaster stories to share? </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1471069279074284191?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-84311837037374244882011-11-28T20:15:00.000Z2011-11-28T20:15:21.807Zit's a runner's worldI met <a href="http://www.yellingperformance.com/Info/Who-we-are.htm">Martin Yelling</a> at the VLM Expo in April, and what a great guy he was!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWK6tuGtL5U/TaiG3G0cAUI/AAAAAAAACvQ/XmHa3KUdfTQ/s1600/IMG_5823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWK6tuGtL5U/TaiG3G0cAUI/AAAAAAAACvQ/XmHa3KUdfTQ/s320/IMG_5823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Martin is a well known speaker, writer, runner and coach, and married to Olympic marathon runner Liz Yelling. Martin is also the founder and co-presenter of <a href="http://www.marathontalk.com/">Marathon Talk</a>, the UK's number 1 ranked running podcast.<br /><br />He and I did a live Q&A at the Lucozade stand at the Expo back in April, two days before the Big M, and I was nervous as hell! I was quizzed about my fitness journey and shared a few things I'd learned while training for a marathon - it was great fun, apart from me having a Bridget Jones-esque moment with the microphone! Ha ha!<br /><br />And now it's my turn to quiz him! Martin has kindly agreed to be the next guest on the Skinny Latte Strikes Back <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/p/podcasts.html">podcast</a>. I'll be dragging his most inspirational and motivational tips out of him (!) and also get him to answer any reader/follower/liker questions about running, or anything fitness related you might like to ask him. Leave your questions here in a comment, on the SLSB <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skinny-Latte-Strikes-Back/141247635974921">Facebook page</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/skinnyylatte">via Twitter</a> by Thursday night!! Don't be shy :)<br /><br />Find out more about Martin and his work <a href="http://www.yellingperformance.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />Hope you've all had great starts to the week - more soon! xx<br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8431183703737424488?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-42286139825370641912011-11-28T07:09:00.001Z2011-11-28T07:09:00.424Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/450131403_F7IA3xuB_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/450131403_F7IA3xuB_c.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/450131403/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-4228613982537064191?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-87338710207964117792011-11-25T13:03:00.001Z2011-11-25T13:03:14.336Zhere comes the sun: tips for surviving winter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axXMNxBjdXE/Ts6fdmB8YBI/AAAAAAAADL0/N_Tgo42GWAM/s1600/IMG_5265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axXMNxBjdXE/Ts6fdmB8YBI/AAAAAAAADL0/N_Tgo42GWAM/s400/IMG_5265.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scene from last winter!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As I write this I'm warming up my insides with some peppermint chai, and the grass outside is blanketed with yellow and brown leaves, which get picked up by the wind and dance in the air like autumnal confetti. I am also wearing my fingerless gloves and need to go and find a pair of socks!! Brrr!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/d4fefd9a16c711e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/d4fefd9a16c711e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />However, in three weeks time I am in Oz!! For six weeks of <b>summer</b>!!!<br /><br />That is not to say I don't sympathise with those who are staring down the barrel of the UK winter! Having had four full winters here, each one colder than the last, I've gleaned a few pearls of wisdom that helped me get through them. I'd love to hear yours too!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moisture essentials</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s7v1.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/000084834?$fash_product$" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://s7v1.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/000084834?$fash_product$" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />I don't know if my fellow Antipodeans have experienced the same, but my skin's needs have changed dramatically since moving to the UK. My first winter here I found that my skin was so dry. Moisturisers and oils that my skin didn't cope with at all well in Australia were suddenly guzzled up by it over here! I used some rich Vitamin E based creams until I discovered <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2010/05/things-i-love-3.html">rosehip oil</a>. Now I use nothing else for the night time, all year round, and it's my day moisturiser in the winter as well, underneath my sunscreen. I still apply that all year round - I'm afraid I've never got out of that habit :)<br /><br />I also recommend aloe vera gel for sore, raw noses during cold and flu season, or better yet, have an aloe vera plant in your home and just break off a stalk when you need it. My plant sadly succumbed to the flat with no natural light, so we will replace ours very soon!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31KguTFwHfL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31KguTFwHfL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=vaseline+rose+lip+balm&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1228&bih=547&tbm=isch&tbnid=o2hxC3w7qeUGvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/VASELINE-Therapy-ROSY-LIPS-Almond/dp/B003UAWN3E&docid=sVgyxxlWKv2xNM&imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31KguTFwHfL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=TInPTuDeCZH1sgbFhqziDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=139&vpy=183&dur=2501&hovh=224&hovw=224&tx=136&ty=166&sig=112869225458070951077&page=1&tbnh=170&tbnw=224&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It goes without saying that Vaseline or lip balm is an essential for the winter, to keep your lips from drying out! When I was on Roaccutane for a year I started carrying lip balm around with me everywhere (one of the side effects is dry lips) and I still do it now. I occasionally use pawpaw lip balm, but I love the aloe vera and the rose flavoured Vaselines, and there's even a special Creme Brulee flavour out - but apparently you can only get it in Selfridges department store and I get terribly depressed every time I go in there. I don't know why. Going into Selfridges for me is like bumping into an ex. An ex with whom you did not part well, that is! It's awkward and exhausting, where every good and worthwhile thing you have ever done in your life seems to evaporate and you leave the encounter feeling bruised, fragile and barely able to remember your own name!! Is it just me?! But as a result I have made some very foolish purchases there over the years!! I avoid it now. I'll be sticking with the rose and aloe vera!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hands and nails</span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/05/25/8a56516fb9ef482895b3015635c4b2d8_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/05/25/8a56516fb9ef482895b3015635c4b2d8_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><br /><div><b><br /></b>Wear gloves whenever you're outside in the cold, it will help protect the thin skin on your hands. Use a rich hand cream on your hands each evening, and after having them in water (ie: washing up). I have always liked Avon's Silicone Glove. Neutrogena is also a wonderful rich formula for the fierce European winter cold. If you feel like absolutely treating yourself, L'Occitane do a wonderful shea butter hand cream.</div><br />I also suggest investing in a really good nail file, to prevent your nails snagging on your gloves ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Healthy on the inside</span><br /><br />I <i>love</i> winter food!<br /><br />Even though it's not quite the same bountiful harvest of summer, there are loads of tasty winter fruit and vegetables in season. It's easy to get your 5-a-day by cooking up a delicious vegetable soup or stew. Here are some of my favourite veggie and protein packed winter warmers:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlaq3lg2Q7k/Tp14_cj71GI/AAAAAAAAC-s/Ph1bjeC6cq4/s320/IMG_7666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlaq3lg2Q7k/Tp14_cj71GI/AAAAAAAAC-s/Ph1bjeC6cq4/s320/IMG_7666.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/10/best-ever-vegetable-soup.html">Best ever veggie soup</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFcmfL51ZW8/TY5XSdrqdhI/AAAAAAAACuM/hApW8VpJsd0/s320/IMG_5763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFcmfL51ZW8/TY5XSdrqdhI/AAAAAAAACuM/hApW8VpJsd0/s320/IMG_5763.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/03/dhal-ling.html">Dhal</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4807/images/4807_MEDIUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4807/images/4807_MEDIUM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/03/marathon-minestrone.html">Marathon minestrone</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSL9r2EohuU/Tp1xk6qXtCI/AAAAAAAAC-U/MlkEIy_CHMQ/s320/IMG_7691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSL9r2EohuU/Tp1xk6qXtCI/AAAAAAAAC-U/MlkEIy_CHMQ/s320/IMG_7691.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Risotto (any kind! This one was beetroot)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/VAMCJ/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/VAMCJ/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggie Sunday roasts!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/SGdI7/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/SGdI7/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twice baked potatoes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/77e8a9fc073c11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/77e8a9fc073c11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any excuse to make the <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/11/inner-beauty-of-celeriac.html">celeriac and potato bake</a> - <br />it's wonderful with other winter root vegetables like swede (turnip)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/VqRZD/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/VqRZD/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom pie and kale chips</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.yimg.com/ao/util/anysize/379,http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/homebeautiful__11/homebeautiful-39435172-1243225203.jpg%3fymzB7TBDRlG6sYAY?sig=UY1HdhdYRPxVzYYUZBsrTuZtLT4-" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.yimg.com/ao/util/anysize/379,http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/homebeautiful__11/homebeautiful-39435172-1243225203.jpg%3fymzB7TBDRlG6sYAY?sig=UY1HdhdYRPxVzYYUZBsrTuZtLT4-" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/homebeautiful/1158/recipe-chickpea-and-sausage-stew/">source</a> Veggie sausage and chickpea stew (this was a winner! Recipe coming soon!) </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Keep up your vitamin C intake with all the lovely citrus fruits available - like clementines, oranges, and satsumas. Juice them or just peel and enjoy! Poach other wintry fruits such as pear, rhubarb or apple in a little sugar and water and have them on their own, or with some greek yoghurt, in a crumble or tart, or have them on top of delicious warming porridge. Just the thing to fuel you up for your run in the cold :P<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGvkCO0kwIg/Ts7I-KE_AiI/AAAAAAAADL8/odmVCA53v90/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGvkCO0kwIg/Ts7I-KE_AiI/AAAAAAAADL8/odmVCA53v90/s320/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread porridge! </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Speaking of porridge, it's the most amazing breakfast you can have in the winter! I think of it as the winter version of my smoothies. Porridge oats are so cheap to buy in bulk, so you can have a ready supply on hand in case it starts snowing out there! And if you feel like a treat, there's always the wonderful Dorset Cereals gingerbread porridge I've been banging on about recently!<br /><br />Also, keep up the water! If you can't stomach cold water, have herbal tea, or warm water with lemon juice in it, or a few sprigs of mint. Very refreshing and perfect for keeping colds away.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Keeping active</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iuIn3G4hX2E/TO7aLHRbgxI/AAAAAAAACnw/8eeMcthpLkQ/s320/IMG_4868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iuIn3G4hX2E/TO7aLHRbgxI/AAAAAAAACnw/8eeMcthpLkQ/s320/IMG_4868.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br />Despite the cold, I really think it's worth getting outside as much as you can, particularly if the sun is out. Rug up and go for a brisk walk, it will make your cheeks lovely and pink and you'll come home feeling refreshed. Even just getting 20 minutes outside in the fresh air puts me in a better mood!<br /><br />I am never tempted to join a gym in the winter. I still try and exercise outside as much as possible - running in the dark doesn't bother me, and the cold just makes me go faster! <a href="http://runningcupcake.co.uk/">Maria</a> has <a href="http://runningcupcake.co.uk/2011/11/staying-safe-in-the-dark/">some excellent tips</a> for staying safe exercising outside during winter. <br /><br />I think it's also worth having one or two really good workout DVDs that you enjoy and can do at home! I don't think you can go past <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jillian-Michaels-Day-Shred-DVD/dp/B002RNOS2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322174839&sr=8-1">The 30 Day Shred</a>, myself. I also have an excellent <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=shiva+rea&x=0&y=0">Shiva Rea</a> yoga DVD collection. <b>What are your favourites?</b><br /><br /><b>Virtual sunshine</b><br /><br />Something that was never on my radar in Australia was Vitamin D. It never got mentioned! Or maybe it's just something that's become "trendy" since I moved here. Vitamin D is considered an essential vitamin for bone and teeth health, and to build a healthy immune system in general. It is talked about a lot in the UK, probably because it's known as "the sunshine vitamin" because you can absorb the vitamin better with adequate sun exposure, and in the winter months you don't see much sun during the day over here and hence people get concerned about the impact that has on their well-being when, let's face it, who wants to be outside when it's freezing?! <br /><br />I think to try and combat the urge to hibernate (!), and to stay healthy and happy over the colder, darker months it's a good idea to try and get out for at least a 20 minute walk during the day if you can - not just to up your vitamin D levels but for the benefits of fresh air and a brief spell in the sun (if it's out!) and of getting away from your desk, not to mention the lift it gives your mood! As mentioned in the getting active section, I always feel great after going outside. Obviously if your driveway is thick with ten inches of snow, that's a different story. But if not, rug up, get out there and keep SAD at bay! <br /><br />You could also think about Vitamin D supplements - it can be beneficial to helping ward off colds and flu and keeping the immune system firing on all cylinders. Last winter Tom and I used a Vitamin D spray which we would take once a day, sprayed on to the tongue. It wasn't an unpleasant taste, almost like peppermint, and, combined with taking our Wellness pills, we felt in pretty good spirits last winter. It might have also helped that we went to Madeira for week in February too :P The one we used is <a href="http://www.betteryou.uk.com/d-lux-1000-daily-vitamin-d3-oral-spray-pid24.html">Better You DLux Vitamin D Spray</a> and you can get it from the <a href="http://nutricentre.com/?gclid=COPAp-et0KwCFQ0OfAodvWT1TQ">Nutricentre</a> in London (one of my favourite places in the city!)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jnROWdKUCaQ/Ts6cDVCnliI/AAAAAAAADLs/3tQTOVwkT6Q/s1600/Neuro+UK+SUN+NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jnROWdKUCaQ/Ts6cDVCnliI/AAAAAAAADLs/3tQTOVwkT6Q/s200/Neuro+UK+SUN+NEW.jpg" width="73" /></a></div><br />Another thing you could try is a Vitamin D drink called <a href="http://drinkneuro.co.uk/products/sun">NeuroSun</a> - I had a few bottles of this last week on the days I commute in, and particularly grey and gloomy days they were too (!), and found I got a bit of a buzz from drinking it! It wasn't a sugar rush like the ones I've had from Red Bull and similar drinks; this felt a bit more natural and I just felt a bit brighter and more alert. It tasted a bit like Passiona (an Australian fizzy drink) but with a herbal/medicinal kick! One bottle of NeuroSun contains the recommended daily requirement of Vitamin D and you can find in most WH Smiths and ASDA supermarkets in the UK, and it's available in the USA too!<br /><br /><b>Treat yourself to something cosy</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/6988409/640/6988409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/6988409/640/6988409.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=romantic+open+fire&um=1&hl=en&biw=1228&bih=598&tbm=isch&tbnid=zeeUNGnB4uPT8M:&imgrefurl=http://blog.coastradar.com/2011/11/romantic-cottage-break-cornwall/&docid=qpFBHiPCuoVzyM&imgurl=http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/6988409/640/6988409.jpg&w=480&h=311&ei=0s7OTsepJcTMhAfJ9_myDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=375&sig=112869225458070951077&page=2&tbnh=106&tbnw=150&start=19&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:19&tx=65&ty=52">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Red wine, cashmere, hot chocolate, roaring fires, long hot baths, sexy knee high boots, mornings tucked up in bed with warm blankets reading books. It doesn't sound too shabby, does it? :)<br /><br />If you're doing your best to keep yourself healthy and happy through winter I think you definitely deserve to treat yourself to something nice to get yourself through those long, cold, dark days. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HHds17N8zg/Ts-GlQEp3xI/AAAAAAAADME/9-Zit0gicv0/s1600/IMG_8295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HHds17N8zg/Ts-GlQEp3xI/AAAAAAAADME/9-Zit0gicv0/s320/IMG_8295.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br /><br />I recently treated myself to a cashmere wrap from <a href="http://www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Christmas-shop/WK668/Womens-Cashmere-Wrap.html">Boden</a> (pictured above). I had a voucher to use and thought <i>why the hell not?</i> It's the most gorgeous cardigan I've ever had (it would want to be though, it wasn't cheap!). And it's so cosy and warm!! I'm so tempted to get it in green too. I think on reflection I should have got a 10 rather than a 12, but that's what layering is for!! And surely every girl (and guy, come to think of it) deserves at least one piece of cashmere in their winter wardrobe? :)<br /><br />These are some of my other ideas of winter warmer treats when you've been especially good or just need a pick me up:<br /><br />A hot yoga class<br /><br />A bottle of your favourite red wine<br /><br />A pair of sexy leather boots<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/T_ufM/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/T_ufM/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />A lush bath bomb or delicious smelling candle like cranberry, ginger or cinnamon<br /><br />A cute scarf, pair of gloves or a hat<br /><br />A hyacinth bulb in a pot you can grow inside - it makes your house smell heavenly as it grows and opens!!<br /><br />A box of your favourite tea, a pouch of freshly ground coffee, or a tub of chai, and a nice new mug to drink it in :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/SFkos/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/SFkos/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />I don't know about you, but winter's not sounding too bad now, is it? :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>What do you enjoy about winter? What are your tips for staying healthy and happy during the colder months?</b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8733871020796411779?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-3590035891930205192011-11-22T08:00:00.006Z2011-11-29T12:06:43.049Zfeeling fruity<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltEsTY4fMeo/Tsq-g650ukI/AAAAAAAADLE/u0VthJgk8F4/s1600/fruitdrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltEsTY4fMeo/Tsq-g650ukI/AAAAAAAADLE/u0VthJgk8F4/s320/fruitdrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Have you guys ever had an <a href="http://www.fruitdrop.co.uk/delivery/">office fruit delivery</a> ? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My mates <a href="http://foodfairynutrition.com/">The Food Fairies</a> say to go for 2-3 pieces of fresh fruit each day, and getting it in during the working day is ideal, I would say, for a burst of natural energy. But with most canteen fruit on offer being pretty standard and uninspired, I was expecting maybe a bunch of bananas and a couple of oranges when Fruitdrop kindly offered to deliver some fruit to my office last week. Instead, it was a cornucopia of delights!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5aX7eLXf08E/Tsq-jNCdnEI/AAAAAAAADLM/EGcvhVicvGA/s1600/fruitdrop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5aX7eLXf08E/Tsq-jNCdnEI/AAAAAAAADLM/EGcvhVicvGA/s320/fruitdrop1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We were treated to a <a href="http://www.fruitdrop.co.uk/boxes-pricing/">Seasonal box</a> which had two kinds of grapes, bananas, apples, satsumas (known in Australia as mandarins), figs, plums, pears, kiwi fruit, persimmons, and even a mango! My workmates looked like they couldn’t believe their luck and the biscuits that are usually stacked in the customary place for communal snacks were promptly ignored!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I haven’t been eating much fruit lately - I have been snacking on nuts when I need a mid morning pick-me-up – but I found that having a handful of grapes, an apple and a fig really perked me up and I felt very refreshed! My workmates reported similarly, taking satsumas, bananas and grapes back to their desks like they had just been to visit Santa’s grotto! Isn’t it funny how fresh, high quality fruit can seem like such a treat when you’re used to the same old tastebud-blurring crisps and chocolate?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fruit has usually been a fixture in my day, since I was little. I used to have to take a piece of fruit to kindergarten which would be put in a bowl near the door when I came in, along with everyone else’s fruit. Then it would be cut up and given to all the children on big platters later in the morning or afternoon – I always took a mandarin (satsuma). I don’t know why, I think it was because I liked peeling it! <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> But then later in life, especially in the workplace, I started rebelling, no longer constrained by school rules or parents. Fruit?! Who wants fruit?! With the freedom to choose, it was chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! But I look back to those days and can’t remember feeling energised, motivated, or particularly happy. Not that I’m saying if I’d eaten fruit for snacks that would have changed everything, but certainly being conscious of my habits and how by changing them I could have more energy and be happier would have made the world of difference. But the penny did drop eventually!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ben from Fruitdrop told me that he launched the concept of office fruit delivery in the UK after working in Australia (where all good ideas come from, of course!) at a bank where there was a daily fresh fruit delivery for all employees to help themselves to. I think it’s no surprise that when an employer shows that they care about your wellbeing and happiness then you will feel more positive in your work and be more motivated; I know that’s certainly been the case with me. Ben noticed the benefits of providing this service, to both the employer and the employee, and decided to launch his own office fruit delivery business when he returned to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>. And the rest is history – they now have over 40 employees and deliver to most areas on the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> mainland.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vdWhFwtPG8/Tsq-jyifmLI/AAAAAAAADLU/ZQv7ZoYpkGA/s1600/fruitdrop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vdWhFwtPG8/Tsq-jyifmLI/AAAAAAAADLU/ZQv7ZoYpkGA/s320/fruitdrop2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And I’m sure the Fruitdrop office is never short of fruit, right Ben?! <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You can get either an essentials box or a seasonal box, delivered regularly or as and when, and if there’s any fruit you would particularly like they can usually tailor something to suit your needs. Ben mentioned lemons sometimes get asked for, which might sound a bit out there but I think that’s a brilliant idea with winter coming up – hot water and lemon is perfect for keeping colds away!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My workmates reported very positively on the fruit. A common thread in the feedback was how luxurious it all was! “Amazing” and “a nice change from all the chocolate we normally have!” were also heard repeatedly! It can often be difficult to find a healthy alternative that is quick, easy and everyone will like, but there was nothing but uproarious praise. Thank you Fruitdrop!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TrDVlxsq8Lw/Tsq-koCZB7I/AAAAAAAADLY/9kOxBnznEow/s1600/fruitdrop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TrDVlxsq8Lw/Tsq-koCZB7I/AAAAAAAADLY/9kOxBnznEow/s320/fruitdrop3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So if you’re finding yourself going to the vending machine for elevenses or a bit tired of the same old muesli bar or packet of digestives, maybe you could get your workplace to treat you all to a <a href="http://www.fruitdrop.co.uk/">Fruitdrop</a> delivery for Christmas? <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>What are your favourite healthy workplace snacks? Do you have an office fruit delivery or snacks scheme? </b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-359003589193020519?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-80482563441690994392011-11-21T07:06:00.000Z2011-11-21T07:06:00.524Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/404837945_G6PrbBpE_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/404837945_G6PrbBpE_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/404837945/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8048256344169099439?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-77345853570345336162011-11-20T20:00:00.001Z2011-11-20T23:18:58.431Znovember notebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/0a63d986139611e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/0a63d986139611e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It's proving to be a rather beautiful November here, weather wise. I notice it more in our new home. That photo above was taken about 3 this afternoon, when the light really spills into the front room and you forget that it's nearly winter outside. After lunch we sat at the table and worked until the light faded, then we watched the sun go down in a blur of grey, purple and pink. 4.55pm, it was gone.<br /><br />This morning I woke to fog, and was very tempted to stay in my bed, drinking tea and playing games on my iPod (seems to be how I start every Sunday!) but I pulled on my running gear anyway (eventually), and put on my Sweaty Betty jacket which hasn't been needed since March (!) and headed out. Once the sun broke through the fog it was magical being out in the country lanes and roads. I felt immensely powerful on today's run. I don't know how to describe it really, but nothing was bothering me - nothing ached, there were no breathing problems, I didn't feel tired and like I wanted to stop. I felt like if I had fuelled a bit more I could have done 10 miles! I somehow found my rhythm really early and just glided along like a duck on the water. It felt natural, it felt freeing and, for the first time in months and months, it felt easy. <br /><br />But of course it's not easy, it never really is - but it's runs like this that keep me going and reassure me that my groove is back! It is such a struggle to get out of the house sometimes but I am always so happy when I make the effort and feel so much better and stronger afterwards. <a href="http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2011/11/not-in-my-genes.html">Caitlin</a> talked about this the other day - how exercise might be a habit now, for those of us who used to be a bit lazy, but it's still something we have to commit to, every day, and I completely agree. It's still something we have to <i>choose</i> to do. We are the sum of our choices and that's what living consciously, to me, is all about. If I want to fit into my clothes and feel fit and healthy and strong, then I need to go for a run as often as I can. It's what I have to do to get what I want. And every time I come back from a run, I'm hungry for the next time I can lace up my runners and get out there. If only I could bottle that "just come back from a run" feeling, I think I'd be a rich woman indeed!<br /><br />I did a resilience course a little while ago, and it has been shown that people who are physically fit and do aerobic activity regularly are far more resilient in life and find setbacks and challenges not as hard to deal with. I think that's true - I know that when I was training for the marathon a few months back very little bothered me! While I was running today I was reminded of how strong I can be - a thought to carry me through the week for sure!<br /><br />We had my parents-in-law visit for most of the week just gone, which was lovely - and my mother-in-law made us some beautiful curtains. The place is really coming together now, I feel rather proud. <br /><br />We had our usual veggie box delivery on Friday, complete with a little mince pie! Christmas really is on the way now.....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/Upwv-/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/Upwv-/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />I enjoyed it with a cup of <a href="http://www.drinkmechai.co.uk/range.html">mango chai</a>!! This is really nice, and very fruity.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvnPUku4_Pk/TslVVPrhGJI/AAAAAAAADK0/sSRsdg3gbUw/s1600/IMG_8193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvnPUku4_Pk/TslVVPrhGJI/AAAAAAAADK0/sSRsdg3gbUw/s320/IMG_8193.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />Over the course of the week Tom and his Dad discovered a hidden pub in one of our town's alleyways, off the beaten track, so we congregated in there with pints of local Chilterns Brewery ales and Buckinghamshire Rarebit on beer bread:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/UrjTD/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/UrjTD/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/69c5341c120911e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/69c5341c120911e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I wore my <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/11/inevitable-autumn.html">new favourite dress</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/UrkN-/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/UrkN-/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Later on Tom's mum and I went to the little antique store where Tom and I found <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/10/squash-and-stuff.html">our vintage cupboard</a> a few weeks ago, and I found this lovely tea set for only £5. Bargain!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/63379e8412ed11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/63379e8412ed11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I also saw this cute little pyjama case (not very practical for me, but cute all the same)!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage8.instagram.com/a616764c120911e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage8.instagram.com/a616764c120911e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was very sad to see them go yesterday, but also kind of nice to get things back to normal as our place is only very small. But the curtains have really lifted it and added an extra lightness to the space, Mumsch (as I call her) did a wonderful job! <br /><br />After today's run, there was smoothie-ing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/U-i8K/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/U-i8K/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />And then I made a lovely Sunday lunch - it was the thought of that that got me out running to be honest!! I made the <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/11/inner-beauty-of-celeriac.html">gratin</a> from a few weeks ago, but as swede (yellow turnip/rutabaga for my American friends) was in our veggie box this week, rather than celeriac, that's what I used instead, and it was wonderful! I really recommend giving it a go! <br /><br />Served with a Quorn vegetarian roast, and sauteed kale and peas:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5dB4Pe3aHs/TslZDRPvGuI/AAAAAAAADK8/5YQRBu84ENk/s1600/IMG_8251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5dB4Pe3aHs/TslZDRPvGuI/AAAAAAAADK8/5YQRBu84ENk/s320/IMG_8251.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />And a delicious red wine:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/VAKTS/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/VAKTS/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><br />Red has definitely been my pick lately, it's perfect for these sunny but chilly days, and dark frosty evenings. Tom and I sometimes go for walks in the late afternoon, just before the sun sets, and watch the light on the red bricked houses, the fields and roads, littered with decaying leaves, and the bare branches black against the sky. The heat wave we got in October has meant the sun has stuck around in November for a bit longer than usual, and I'm not complaining. I need a coat and gloves in the mornings now, but the sun does break through for a few hours each day and that's all I need to get me through the next three weeks.<br /><br /><b>How has your November been shaping up? Hope you have a lovely week xx </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-7734585357034533616?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-79123483993920601332011-11-17T20:37:00.000Z2011-11-17T20:37:06.770Zrescue remedies: yoga and chocolateI really needed some yoga today.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/60042f12114311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/60042f12114311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />My friend <a href="http://yogawithnadine.com/">Nadine</a> sent me a box of her <a href="http://yogawithnadine.bigcartel.com/product/yogattitude-cards-workbook">yogAttitude</a> cards a little while ago and I've been waiting for the right time to introduce them into my home practice. The idea is that you match a pose with an "attitude" and build a sequence of poses, or do meditation on the thoughts inspired by some of the "attitudes", or a combination of the two. It's designed to get you out of a slump, in your yoga practice or in life in general. So today it was perfect for me, as I've been feeling a bit lost. So I plucked a few at random, and was inspired by their message:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/af91b1b8114711e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage11.instagram.com/af91b1b8114711e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I like to think of them as yoga tarot cards :)<br /><br />So I built my practice around downward dog, warrior 2 and triangle; moving from downward dog to lunge, to warrior 1, then warrior 2 and into triangle, then working backwards to downward dog. Also did some pigeon pose, and <i>uttanasana</i>. <br /><br />Having spent the best part of the day feeling a bit gloomy, I felt inspired, grounded and strong after doing those poses. Yoga is such a tonic, so restorative for the soul. Every time I come back to the mat, I vow to come back more often. Yoga always disarms my ego and leaves me little option but to accept things, and myself, as they are.<br /><br />I've been reading <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6438235-the-handbag-and-wellies-yoga-club"><i>The Handbag and </i><i>Wellies </i><i>Yoga Club</i></a>, the follow up to Lucy Edge's first yoga memoir <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139356.Yoga_School_Dropout">Yoga School Drop Out</a>, </i>where Lucy and the Bad Ladies often follow a yoga class with treacle tart and Pinot Grigio.<br /><br />Lacking easy access to treacle tart today, I followed my yoga with chocolate!<br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbcmPj2byrA/TsVWKAGzxEI/AAAAAAAADIE/8GBol_t1U5w/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbcmPj2byrA/TsVWKAGzxEI/AAAAAAAADIE/8GBol_t1U5w/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The lovely Holly sent me some of her organic chocolates, from the wonderfully named <a href="http://www.chocoholly.com/">chocoholly</a> range. I had a few different flavours to try, plus the award winning chocolate fish! I've been working my way through them for about a week (sharing with Tom of course!) and we both agreed <a href="http://www.chocoholly.com/the-chocolate-shop/chocolate-fish/award-winning-rich-milk-chocolate-fish/">the chocolate fish</a> were the best! Holly calls it "a darker shade of milk" which is a great way to describe the rich cocoa flavour. Today I had a bit of the <a href="http://www.chocoholly.com/the-chocolate-shop/chocolate-bars1/cardamom-100g-bar-with-milk-chocolate/">cardamom milk chocolate</a>, which tastes like a chai latte...perfect for after yoga! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ef-vv6cVcA/TsVWKhsVujI/AAAAAAAADII/r4dekE7RefE/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ef-vv6cVcA/TsVWKhsVujI/AAAAAAAADII/r4dekE7RefE/s320/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, in my opinion, yoga and chocolate, in the right doses, are the perfect rescue remedy combination!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What about you? What's your rescue remedy?</b> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-7912348399392060133?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-52762362783363239662011-11-15T20:01:00.000Z2011-11-15T20:01:50.131Zanita's bench<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-a804fd6405dde27b" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v10.nonxt4.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Da804fd6405dde27b%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1330864641%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D1EF7869D1EF9624FC184B9B2626FC36B6F70E951.210F87BCFF768371290AF4F053664888403030D9%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Da804fd6405dde27b%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D3QCz6S49dxWxx9KPazM8J4S3mvw&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"flashvars="flvurl=http://v10.nonxt4.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Da804fd6405dde27b%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1330864641%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D1EF7869D1EF9624FC184B9B2626FC36B6F70E951.210F87BCFF768371290AF4F053664888403030D9%26key%3Dck1&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Da804fd6405dde27b%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D3QCz6S49dxWxx9KPazM8J4S3mvw&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"allowFullScreen="true" /></object></div><br />This is a video I made for Lucozade a few days before <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/04/dial-m-for-marathon-race-report-virgin.html">The Big M</a> back in April - I don't think they ever used it, but I was reminded of it today when Anita's bench, which I used to go and find every time I ran in Battersea Park, popped into my head for some unknown reason.<br /><br />I can't recall if I ever went into any great detail about Anita's bench on here. I'm sitting on it in this video, and I tell you the story! I hope you like it :)<br /><br />It was fun to remember the last few days in the lead up to the marathon! It was surreal and exciting - kind of like getting married!! Can you believe it's been seven months since that fateful day?! <br /><br />I hope I can find another Anita's bench out here. Cheers Anita, and to everyone who misses someone special. xxx<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-5276236278336323966?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-47187009164873847942011-11-14T21:25:00.000Z2011-11-14T21:25:04.818Zoperation gingerbread porridge - 24 hour give away on facebook and twitter!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8xCJd1uC6TE/TsGAsqU1vWI/AAAAAAAADH8/T60ND_zpro4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8xCJd1uC6TE/TsGAsqU1vWI/AAAAAAAADH8/T60ND_zpro4/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />If you follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/skinnyylatte">Twitter</a>, you might have seen me going a bit insane last week when I found out that <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dorsetcereals">Dorset Cereals</a>, who make two of my favourite cereals which have been an adequate substitute for my beloved Carmans, have started doing a <i>gingerbread porridge</i>!! How delicious does that sound?!<br /><br />Even though I had just been to the Waitrose supermarket, I high-tailed back there in a record 4 minutes to scour the shelves - to find them bare!! I got two very obliging young men on the case who informed me there would be some more after the weekend. So I made my escape as soon as I could today and was delighted to find some still there! As I rounded the corner of the cereal aisle, I saw people milling around down the end and said under my breath,<i> </i>"keep walking, keep walking!".....I can't remember the last time I went this crazy over cereal!<br /><br />Seeing that this porridge is not available everywhere ("rare as gold dust" one commenter said earlier ), I thought I'd pick up an extra box for a lucky SLSB follower/liker :)<br /><br />If you'd like to win some gingerbread porridge for yourself, either:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skinny-Latte-Strikes-Back/141247635974921">Skinny Latte Strikes Back Facebook page</a> and leave a comment on the<br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=147207802045571&set=a.143402519092766.21572.141247635974921&type=1&theater">Gingerbread Porridge photo</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(if you're already a liker then 1. you rock and 2. just leave a comment on the photo)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">OR</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/skinnyylatte">Twitter</a> and RT my <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23OperationGingerbreadPorridge">#operationgingerbreadporridge</a> tweet! </div><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The annoying small print: Please note Dorset Cereals aren't affiliated with this give away, I just thought it would be a fun thing to do :) </span></i><br /><br />I'll draw one lucky person at random at 9pm GMT tomorrow. Give away is open to all likers and followers, world wide! <br /><br />It's a perfect breakfast for this chilly weather or, if you're somewhere warm, it's a great breakfast to get you in the mood for Christmas! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ good luck! ~</span></b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-4718700916487384794?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-16137091993704390902011-11-14T06:55:00.000Z2011-11-14T06:55:00.542Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/406883962_iYVvMBz9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/406883962_iYVvMBz9_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/406883962/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1613709199370439090?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-88797145425070764642011-11-13T16:28:00.000Z2011-11-13T16:28:43.074Zinevitable autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- Albert Camus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/2f36c6320e1011e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/2f36c6320e1011e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love autumn. It's always been my favourite season, wherever I have lived. It's reassuring when it comes around again, when the nights start getting darker and chillier and the streets are littered with leaves, that no matter what life throws at us, good or bad, we can't hit "pause" and autumn is always going to come.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Life continues to be rather full on, as <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/11/six-weeks.html">the countdown to Australia</a> continues!! I haven't been getting too cranky about the cold because I know I'm going to get summer in about 4 weeks time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's hard to believe we've been out in the new place for nearly 2 months now. It's really come together and now we're just waiting on some curtains, which Tom's mum is going to help me with this week. I can't wait to finally get rid of the old ones, as they clash with the new decor :) I've also enjoyed getting to know what's on offer in our town - one of our favourite places to go is Noodle Nation, where we went with <a href="http://youshouldnevertrustaskinnycook.blogspot.com/">Ali</a> on Thursday night:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/TkMZn/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/TkMZn/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went with something different and had noodle soup with mixed vegetables - it was delicious! Usually Tom and I get the same thing - stir-fried egg noodles with mixed vegetables and cashew nuts - but I like to ring in the changes every now and then! We got some fortune cookies at the end and this was my fortune:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/T_03i/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/T_03i/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How accurate! But then this was Tom's:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/T_1aa/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/T_1aa/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bwahaha! Maybe the secret admirer will appear in the land of sunshine?! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The colours of autumn are very fashionable to wear too - gold, tan, copper, berry and burgundy are everywhere at the moment. I found this dress at, of all places, Tesco (!) the other night and wore it when we went out yesterday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TyV_Pp6PaC0/Tr_XAd7yH3I/AAAAAAAADHU/eJQJD5VPVOg/s1600/IMG_8058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TyV_Pp6PaC0/Tr_XAd7yH3I/AAAAAAAADHU/eJQJD5VPVOg/s320/IMG_8058.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnNsLgSFLoM/Tr_XBzMHCFI/AAAAAAAADHk/71xGQ6zl3bQ/s1600/IMG_8062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnNsLgSFLoM/Tr_XBzMHCFI/AAAAAAAADHk/71xGQ6zl3bQ/s320/IMG_8062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qHIuwClbqkA/Tr_XBMQLA-I/AAAAAAAADHY/C-EZWTaINqc/s1600/IMG_8059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qHIuwClbqkA/Tr_XBMQLA-I/AAAAAAAADHY/C-EZWTaINqc/s320/IMG_8059.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oHQyKLD9J14/Tr_XCxVBx9I/AAAAAAAADHo/vQ_iCdKwGws/s1600/IMG_8063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oHQyKLD9J14/Tr_XCxVBx9I/AAAAAAAADHo/vQ_iCdKwGws/s320/IMG_8063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While nothing will ever replace that Quick Brown Fox apricot dress as <i>the magic dress </i>this one is gorgeous and really comfortable, and I can dress it up or down. I didn't even try it on - it was just sitting there, the only one in the store, in amongst some parkas and coats. Love it when that happens!! It's a bit big, but that's ok. I can use a belt to cinch in the waist some more :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tom tried out his new lens on the camera:<br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/242d2fda0df011e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/242d2fda0df011e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by taking pictures of my eye! (Not putting those up - I was pleased with the straight lines on my eyeliner but let's just say I need to start wearing night cream!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The veggie box was full of autumnal goodies as always!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://instagr.am/p/T_0Xo/media/?size=l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://instagr.am/p/T_0Xo/media/?size=l" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/504c50480e1111e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/504c50480e1111e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage9.instagram.com/30a417a80e1111e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage9.instagram.com/30a417a80e1111e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I see parsnips in season I know that it's <i>really </i>autumn! Tom and I discovered <a href="http://allotment2kitchen.blogspot.com/2011/01/wild-rice-and-parsnip-soup.html">a wonderful curried parsnip soup</a> last year, which I think we'll use these babies in this week :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally used up some squash from the last box by making <a href="http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/recipes/squash#recipe7">squash felafels</a> which we loved! Next time I would probably fry them rather than oven baking them, but they were <i>sooooo yummy</i> anyway, slathered in, what else, hummous! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/71f1b6200e1111e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/71f1b6200e1111e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I went for my usual run, where I hated the first half, but loved the last half! I felt a bit dodgy in the tummy but tried to power through. Perhaps I was hungry, but I didn't think I was hungover - I only had 2 glasses of champagne yesterday! What a lightweight!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I came back and inhaled brunch:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/9f7c82fe0e1211e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/9f7c82fe0e1211e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beans on toast; tomatoes, basil, spinach and mushrooms; <br />and Rent-A-Hen courgette omelette! I dream of this on my Sunday runs!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />And then we set about cleaning the place as Tom's mum and dad are coming to visit! Lit a few candles to make the living room smell nice:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/9881fb820e0811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/9881fb820e0811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Watered my basil plant:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZOoUtuodJE/Tr_V_FFoXpI/AAAAAAAADG8/jbz5ahb-UPA/s1600/IMG_8129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZOoUtuodJE/Tr_V_FFoXpI/AAAAAAAADG8/jbz5ahb-UPA/s320/IMG_8129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And then finally collapsed with a chai!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4sQlAeCfLZc/Tr_WCft46hI/AAAAAAAADHE/UZ9XcKfPETU/s1600/IMG_8135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4sQlAeCfLZc/Tr_WCft46hI/AAAAAAAADHE/UZ9XcKfPETU/s320/IMG_8135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br />How was your weekend? Anything nice planned for this week?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-8879714542507076464?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-58303808432079958832011-11-11T11:43:00.000Z2011-11-11T11:43:04.477Zthe artist and the marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CC7-ypSZ--0/Trv-o3DqS1I/AAAAAAAADE4/_zEex9ghXZo/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CC7-ypSZ--0/Trv-o3DqS1I/AAAAAAAADE4/_zEex9ghXZo/s400/photo.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SLSB motto! :)<br />Image by <a href="http://rosshiers.bigcartel.com/">Ros Shiers</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/11/why-i-didnt-run-half-marathon-today.html">wrote recently</a> about how my journey is evolving into one of self-care, kindness and understanding, and how slowly I am letting all the various parts of myself co-exist together, rather than only letting one out at a time. I'm constantly learning about life and what makes me happy, and it's wonderful when something just <i>clicks </i>and things that used to give you a lot of grief fade quietly into the background and you can just get on with what you need to do. It's been a rather monumental year for me in that respect. I feel so much more whole than I did this time last year. I feel less afraid. I feel like I have won back a few things I thought I'd lost, but brighter, shinier versions of them. <br /><br />I find it very interesting to find out how others balance everything they want to do in life, particularly people who are creative and artistic, but have other goals and interests too. I particularly love hearing about artists who are runners as well - I read<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Talk-About-When-Running/dp/0099526158/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321006059&sr=8-1"> Haruki Murakami's<i> What I Talk About When I Talk About Running</i></a> with a huge smile on my face, and every second thought I had was "me too!" :) <br /><br />I was introduced to the work of illustrator and graphic artist <a href="http://ros-shiers.com/home.html">Ros Shiers</a> a few weeks ago at the <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/10/skinny-on-cosmo-blog-awards.html">Cosmopolitan Blog Awards</a>. She drew the beautiful print that was personalised, framed and given to all the winners - so now I am the proud owner of a Ros Shiers' limited edition!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y22iku4LQyA/TqlcAaGuT6I/AAAAAAAADAY/8RFhwoCjMyA/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y22iku4LQyA/TqlcAaGuT6I/AAAAAAAADAY/8RFhwoCjMyA/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br />Ros is an amazing artist, and she has been commissioned by many high profile clients such as Nokia, Ford, M&S, and Stella McCartney. Her products and prints have been featured in various publications including <i>Elle Decoration</i>, <i>Easy Living</i>, <i>The Telegraph</i> and <i>The Independent</i>. I found out that Ros ran the London Marathon this year too! I love how marathoners immediately bond :)<br /><br />To continue on this little theme I've been thinking about lately, how creative people who are also passionate about a sport and keeping fit balance those two things, I had a chat to Ros about how she trained for the marathon and continues to enjoy running and keeping fit, as well as balancing the challenges of a creative career and keeping inspired in that arena of her life. I know I've found it very challenging and am finally starting to see how the two things can complement each other rather than it being all or nothing. <br /><br />Ros very kindly answered my probing questions, I hope you'll enjoy hearing what she has to say. And dog lovers, be warned - her puppy Bailey is SO CUTE. <br /><br />So, without further ado, I give you.....<i>the artist and the marathon.<br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3B-lglTcxtA/Trz_0knigJI/AAAAAAAADFU/OatDZMCXshc/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3B-lglTcxtA/Trz_0knigJI/AAAAAAAADFU/OatDZMCXshc/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" /></a></div><i><br /></i><br /><b>Thanks for doing this Ros! To begin, could you please tell us how you got into running?</b><br /><br />I started running at the end of 2008. I wanted to feel better about myself and get into a routine where I exercised more regularly. Running appealed as there is a beautiful park where I live in Queens Park so I knew it would be fun to be outside in the fresh air and in lovely surroundings. It was also a challenge as I’d never seen myself as someone who could run - I thought I’d be out of breath straight away and have to stop. I started out only being able to run a short distance but I persevered and my distance increased. <br /><br />I started to really look forward to my runs and seeing if I could go a little further each week. A girlfriend recommended a book to me, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slow-Burn-Faster-Exercising-Slower/dp/0062736744/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321008265&sr=8-1">Slow Burn</a> by Stu Mittleman, which proved to be hugely motivating and inspirational. His story is unbelievable! The techniques he describes in the book about breathing and the way you use your body when running really struck a chord and I found myself beginning to think perhaps I should set myself a challenge. <br /><br />I applied for a place in the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October 2009. I was quite scared! 13.1 miles still seemed like forever, but it gave me a goal so I went for it. My training went well, but I was always doubting that I could do it. When the day came, I completed the half marathon and felt great! I couldn’t believe what I’d achieved. I ran it in 2 hours 6 minutes....without stopping! My goal had always been to run the whole way, so I felt the biggest sense of achievement when I finished. It had been an amazing experience, running around all the beautiful parks in London. My family and friends were supporting me and I felt that they were really proud of me.<br /><br /><b>Have you always been sporty?</b><br /><br />At school my twin sister and I were in all the school teams, netball, hockey, rounders, swimming and we really enjoyed it. When I left school I didn’t really keep going with sport. I have always enjoyed swimming but wasn’t doing regular activity until I went to university where I started practicing yoga every morning, which was amazing. After university and moving to London I had a few years with a lack of regular exercise until I started running. It was here that I felt I’d found a sport that worked perfectly for me as I could do it at anytime and fit it around my work. All I needed were some good running shoes and then to go outside!<br /><br /><b>What made you decide to run the London Marathon this year?</b><br /><br />On a high after completing the half marathon in 2009 I decided to apply for the London Marathon in 2010. My mum thought I was mad as I was getting married in July 2010! She thought I would have enough on my mind planning a wedding (as I was doing everything myself) without adding training for a marathon into the mix! I remember she kept telling me how it was such a long way, so much longer than the half I had run, but something in me wanted to have a go. I really wanted to set myself a challenge which I’d never imagined I could actually do. As it turned out I didn’t get a place that year, so I applied again the next year and successfully got my place in the London Marathon 2011.<br /><br /><b>How did you train for it?</b><br /><br />When I found out in October 2010 that I’d got my place, I worked out that if I added a mile a week to what I was already running then come a month before the race I’d be up to 20 miles. A girlfriend who’d run the Dublin Marathon a few years before emailed me her training schedule as she had employed a running coach to help her. I tried to take parts of it into my own plan. I would usually do three shorter runs in the week and then my long runs on a Saturday, building up an extra mile each week.<br /><br /><b>Did training affect your creativity, or your creative output at all? If so, how?</b><br /><br />It did a little, as the training was very time consuming, but it was also beneficial as I would often spend my runs thinking about pictures I was working on, and have a clearer idea of what I was doing when I sat down to work. I have distinct memories of writing my wedding speech in my head whilst running. If only I’d remembered it for the day!!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9h2oCSxO7NQ/Trz_zviqv0I/AAAAAAAADFE/nJakSuAQcDE/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9h2oCSxO7NQ/Trz_zviqv0I/AAAAAAAADFE/nJakSuAQcDE/s320/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ros and her super cute puggle Bailey!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>What things do you think sport and art have in common?</b><br /><br />I think you need dedication, determination and drive to pursue artistic careers and sport. You also need to be able to carry on if you fail, pick yourself up and carry on. I guess it is that desire to be doing something you love that motivates you to keep going, in art and sport.<br /><br /><b>How do you deal with blocks, both in running and in your art?</b><br /><br />When it comes to my art I find blocks hard, but I deal with it by looking at blogs online, books, and magazines to inspire me and pull me out of it. In running I found it difficult when I’d got to a certain point in my long run training sessions. I really had to build my mental strength during my marathon training to tell myself I could do it. This was hard as my self belief has never been strong.<br /><br /><b>Do you see your sporty and artistic sides as separate or complementary?</b><br /><br />I think they complement each other. When I am running regularly I see the positive effect it has on my whole life. I am happier, my mind is calmer. (<i>Phil: me too!</i>)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLYqwe9z_tU/TrmT37TloOI/AAAAAAAABfM/ws_BGVqdpjA/s640/DSC00244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLYqwe9z_tU/TrmT37TloOI/AAAAAAAABfM/ws_BGVqdpjA/s320/DSC00244.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ros (and Bailey) and Miss K at a recent market<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLYqwe9z_tU/TrmT37TloOI/AAAAAAAABfM/ws_BGVqdpjA/s640/DSC00244.JPG">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b>Have you found that sporty people tend not to be creative, or vice versa?</b><br /><br />No, I don’t think so. Most of my close friends work creatively as fashion designers, illustrators, graphic designers, chefs, hairdressers, and music video producers. Some are into sport/keeping fit and have exercise routines and some don’t.<br /><br /><b>What is your biggest source of inspiration?</b><br /><br />Everything! Life, friends, family, and the relationships you have with the people you love and care about. I also love films, music, magazines, books, cooking, traveling, and generally learning anything new and seeing new things. It enriches you and the way you think about your work and your life, and the way you live it.<br /><br /><b>What is your favourite post-run treat?</b><br /><br />A few squares of Lindt 70% dark chocolate. And after the marathon, I had a glass or two of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc :)<br /><br /><b>What are your creative rituals?</b><br /><br />Reading certain blogs each day to inspire me, and enjoying being part of a book club with friends.<br /><br /><b>What are your running rituals?</b><br /><br />The music that I listen to on my shuffle has become a ritual to motivate me and get me thinking about memories when I’m running. Lots of Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Tinie Tempah.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlwIhlK6mCo/Trz_z_ykfWI/AAAAAAAADFQ/qEpKVqbOows/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlwIhlK6mCo/Trz_z_ykfWI/AAAAAAAADFQ/qEpKVqbOows/s320/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Tell us about a typical day for you.</b><br /><br />Some mornings I’ll go for a run, or take Bailey to the park for a run around with the other doggies. I can’t wait for the day when he has grown up enough that we can go for a run together without him getting excited and trying to play/bite his lead and trip me up along the way. He is a seven month old puggle and is pretty crazy. Then I come home, have breakfast, check my emails, pack up orders from my online shops and wholesale, work on any illustration commissions and new print designs, go to the post office. I usually spend the days juggling everything whilst looking after Bailey! I’ll work in the evenings if I don’t have plans or watch a movie, read or have friends over for dinner. Cooking is a real passion of mine and the way I relax.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>What do you wish you had known before you ran the London Marathon?</b><br /><br />I hadn’t realised how much running with someone had helped me in my training. My husband used to meet me half way on my long weekend runs and then run the last 8-10 miles with me. By that point I was tired and his motivation and support kept me going - if I’d been out there on my own I’m sure I would have stopped! So on the day of the marathon I found the last eight miles really tough, as I was on my own! But I met an amazing couple of guys who were running for the same charity as me, <a href="http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/">Help For Heroes</a>. I think they could see I was struggling so I walked along with them for a few minutes, and we chatted and they said they’d walk the rest of the way with me if I couldn’t go on. They were so sweet - the fact they were happy to put their own times at the back of their minds I thought was so generous. I found the whole spirit of the day completely overwhelming.<br /><br />The guys told me if we walked the rest of the way we would do it in five and a half hours. I had always said to myself I’d love to complete it in four and a half hours, so knew I had to get running again quickly - their kind words and support were priceless at that moment and helped me to get going again. When I got my time I was over the moon to see I’d just done it: 4 hours 29 minutes!!!! This was the biggest achievement of my life and the hardest thing I’d ever done, but definitely the best for the feelings of self worth and achievement that I felt for days and weeks to come.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7SBZTt23hs/Trz_zDNtgRI/AAAAAAAADFA/j8DK6y1r4-M/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7SBZTt23hs/Trz_zDNtgRI/AAAAAAAADFA/j8DK6y1r4-M/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given?</b><br /><br />I’m not sure! But here are some quotes that I like:<br /><br /><i>Laughter is the best medicine.<br /></i><br /><i>Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.</i><br /><i><br />Life is what YOU make of it.</i><br /><i><br />Practice makes perfect.</i><br /><i><br />If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.</i><br /><i><br />It’s never too late to be what you might have been.</i><br /><i><br />Don’t let the shadows of yesterday spoil the sunshine of tomorrow, live for today.</i><br /><br />I think I try and live my life with these in mind. That’s good advice :)<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>Thanks for sharing your insights with us Ros! :) </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>Do you balance a love of sport with something creative too? How do you find it?</b><br /><br />******<br /><br />Ros is very kindly offering SLSB readers a whopping 30% off <a href="http://rosshiers.bigcartel.com/">her online shop</a> for a week - simply enter the code SKINNYLATTE30 at the checkout! She has some gorgeous prints on offer in her shop - I love the <a href="http://rosshiers.bigcartel.com/product/we-all-scream-for-ice-cream">ice cream</a> print (surprise surprise!). I also think the <a href="http://rosshiers.bigcartel.com/product/something-old-new-borrowed-blue">something old new borrowed blue</a> would look wonderful on a wedding table with a guest book - it makes a lovely keepsake afterwards as well. <br /><br />So if you want to get something for the person who has everything this Christmas, go and check out what Ros has on offer. She ships all over the world too!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-5830380843207995883?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-56593911071629478602011-11-09T13:04:00.000Z2011-11-09T13:04:49.166Zwhat if?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/175322094_DxMj2ILD_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/175322094_DxMj2ILD_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/175322094/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />This post was inspired by <a href="http://thepublicstudio.net/2011/08/what-if/">a wonderful, brave friend.</a><br /><br />******* <br /><br /><b>What if </b>your health, weight or fitness wasn't an issue? What would make you happier with yourself, or your life, right now?<br /><br /><b>What if</b> you decided to let go of the past?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you spoke out, or stood up for yourself? What's the worst that could happen? <br /><br /><b>What if </b>you released your expecations, of yourself and others?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you stopped comparing yourself to other people and instead were just proud to be who YOU are?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you harnessed your full potential and your own power, instead of passing it over to others? <br /><br /><b>What if</b> you only spent time with people who enriched the quality of your life? Both on and offline?<br /><br /><b>What if</b> you stopped gossiping about others, let go of the need to be right and instead used that energy to do happier things?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you told the truth? <br /><br /><b>What if</b> you only watched TV two nights a week?<br /><br /><b>What if</b> you decided your dreams had waited long enough, and did something, anything, to bring them into reality?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you stopped feeling like you have to do everything that is asked of you....and just did things you genuinely, lovingly and honestly wanted to do? <br /><br /><b>What if</b> you looked fear and self doubt square in the face and said "I'm doing it anyway"?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you allowed other people to just be who they are, and didn't judge them, and didn't take what they did or said personally?<br /><br /><b>What if</b> you stopped waiting for the perfect time, or until you think you're ready, and just bloody did it?!<br /><br /><b>What if</b> no one ever reads what you write, or sees what you create? Would you still do it anyway? <br /><br /><b>What if </b>you stopped caring about what other people think? Seriously. <br /><br /><b>What if </b>you decided to be productive, rather than busy?<br /><br /><b>What if</b> the thing you're scared of the most didn't scare you any more? <br /><br /><b>What if </b>you let go something that no longer serves you? <br /><br /><b>What if</b> you realised you were free to choose?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you were proud of your success, instead of downplaying it all the time?<br /><b><br />What if </b>you decided you weren't waiting another day for the life you want and deserve?<br /><br /><b>What if </b>you trusted and truly believed that you are loved? <b><br /><br />What if</b> you realised that this is your one and only precious life?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What if?</b></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-5659391107162947860?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-69221347402179993452011-11-08T21:30:00.002Z2011-11-09T13:08:55.381Ztuesday treatsI am starting to love Tuesdays for their peacefulness and relative calm. Ever since Year 5 it was my most loathed day of the week - and all through high school double maths always used to fall on a Tuesday for some reason - but now I love them because Tuesday means the commuting for the week is half over!!<br /><br />This particular Tuesday has been filled with some nice treats too, as the title suggests. I needed it after a Manic Monday :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/7168f7d40a4911e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/7168f7d40a4911e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Fairtrade chocolate biscuits</b><br /><br />I can’t remember how I discovered <a href="http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10309-10001-37388-Fair+Break+biscuits+chocolate+wafer.html">these</a> - I think I might have had one at a conference and got hooked - but I used to have a packet of them in regular rotation in my office drawer when I started my job four and a half years ago, when I first moved to London. While I wouldn’t go back to the first six weeks I spent in the UK if you paid me (the most stressful time of my life!), there were moments during that time that were sweet and wonderful as I discovered my new home, and got to know certain areas of the city, and combated homesickness for Aussie biscuits by trying every English biscuit that took my fancy. I remember eating lots of Jaffa Cakes around that time too! I’ve not bought these particular Fairtrade ones for years, but today I saw them in the Waitrose while I was out browsing and getting some fresh air at lunch and thought I’d stash some in the office drawer for old times sake! <br /><br />I love how this place was once so new and scary, and now I have a past, and memories, and things I can do "for old times sake" :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/b4a66e3c0a4911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage4.instagram.com/b4a66e3c0a4911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>The new Green Bean!</b><br /><br />If you haven’t heard of illustrator, graphic artist and all round fabulous <a href="http://katiegreenbean.blogspot.com/">Katie Green</a>, well, you have now. Katie and I met at an Arvon evening last year, when I had booked and paid for my course but was starting to wonder what on earth I’d signed up for and that when I showed up at Moniack Mhor in Inverness, someone surely was going to come up to me and say “I think there’s been some mistake!” :P<br /><br />Katie was very kind and reassuring, and I was spellbound by her beautiful drawings. Her first graphic novel will be out in 2013, and tells the story of her recovery from sexual abuse and an eating disorder that almost killed her. She has now been in recovery for a decade, and her story and the experiences she's shared on her blog have resonated with me very deeply, as I’m sure they will with anyone who has ever been through a similar experience, or anyone who has been in the grips of something very frightening and wondered if they would ever survive it. She’s an inspiring and courageous lady, and the epitome of positivity and moving forward. <br /><br />In addition to working on her graphic novel, Katie puts out a bi-monthly zine called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/katiegreen?section_id=6252715"><i>The Green Bean</i></a>, which is one of my most favourite things in the world. When my copy arrived at work today (when we lived in Pimlico I got anything important delivered to work because mail used to go missing all the time - including an issue of <i>The Green Bean</i>! Grr!) I was so excited! Reading it is like sitting down and having a cup of tea with her, you get such a magical window into her world and the things that are inspiring her. Books, nature, travel, craft, recipes....her words are as delicious as her pictures. And she loves cake as much as I do!! Reading the latest <i>Green Bean</i> was the highlight of tonight's train ride home (well that, and Tom texting to say he was coming to meet me). If you need some chicken soup for the soul, I thoroughly recommend getting yourself a copy. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/d4ea51640a4d11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/d4ea51640a4d11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Boots Botanics Eye Make Up Remover</b><br /><br />I haven’t bought eye make up remover in a long time, as I normally rely on baby wipes to get my makeup off each day. Recently, however, I’ve been finding it hard to remove my waterproof mascara with them, and last night had a most unpleasant itchy eye as a result – it looked like something septic out of an ophthalmology journal! Ugh! Fellow blogger <a href="http://www.sofiasjournal.com/">Sofia</a> (highly commended at the <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/blog-awards-winners/cosmo-blog-awards-2011-winners-announced">Cosmos</a>!) recommended <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics-Soothing-Eye-Make-Up-Remover-150ml_34087/">this one</a> and when I saw it in Boots today I thought I’d give it a go. And it was a bargain £3.05! Let's see how the great mascara disrobe goes tonight. <i>Update: it's excellent!!</i> <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/2bf6fec00a4a11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/2bf6fec00a4a11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Tom cooking dinner.</b><br /><br />That's always a treat! Tonight he made his usual laksa, filled with noodles and cashews. It was hot and spicy and the vegetables were lovely and crisp just the way I like them! He is expanding his repertoire slowly but surely :)<br /><br />And, to top off my terrific Tuesday, my order from <a href="http://www.stylistpick.com/">Stylist Pick</a> arrived - containing my new bag! But I’ll share that with you tomorrow! :) Wow factor Wednesday!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/34b7920a0a4911e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage1.instagram.com/34b7920a0a4911e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Did you have any treats this Tuesday? :) </b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6922134740217999345?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-19871743657202080382011-11-07T06:34:00.002Z2011-11-07T06:34:00.907Zmonday mantra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/198909847_dfDgmssN_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/198909847_dfDgmssN_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/198909847/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-1987174365720208038?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-8601552173568329742011-11-06T18:27:00.000Z2011-11-06T18:27:11.177Zwhy i didn't run a half marathon today<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/413819801_ELMmcYfw_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/413819801_ELMmcYfw_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/413819801/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A few months back, in the midst of moving and renovation madness, I was in <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2011/09/how-to-break-out-of-running-routine-rut.html">a bit of a running rut</a>. I vowed to myself that I'd get my mojo back and thought maybe aiming for a half marathon in November would be a good goal. Well, the half marathon I originally thought I'd run was today.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't run it, as the title suggests. Why? Well, for three reasons:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. I didn't feel like it.</div><div>2. I didn't feel like it.</div><div>3. You see where I'm going with this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is funny, because I <i>do</i> have my running mojo back....but it's come back in a different way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could have run that half marathon - but it probably wouldn't have been much fun, and I possibly would have injured myself because even though my fitness is great, I haven't been doing many long runs lately. 6km is what I'm averaging a couple of times a week, with a longer 12km on Sundays. It's about all I have time for these days. The commute, the move, my full time job that pays the bills suddenly going a bit insane, and also wanting to get a second draft of my book finished....this all takes time. I don't think I can do it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, more to the point, I don't think I have to do it all. I don't need to keep putting myself through a hard slog, because I don't have anything to prove. I know I'm tough. I know I'm determined, and I know I could do whatever I set my mind to, if I wanted it badly enough. Lately I've just been trying to give myself some credit for how far I've come, to be kind to myself and realise that it's ok to run <b>just because I love it</b> and to keep fit, not to keep proving something. </div><div><br /></div><div>If that half marathon today had been that important to me, I would have done it, no question. But it wasn't like <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/2009/08/making-my-own-magic.html">my first half marathon</a>, which meant <i>so much; </i>or like the other races I did in the lead up to the Big M, which were all big deposits into my Bank of Confidence! This half marathon didn't really mean anything to me. It was just something I plucked at random, a target I could reach to get my mojo back, to get me running again.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I <b>am</b> running again! Since we made the move out here, I've been running a 6km route about 3 times a week, on average, and a longer run on Sundays. I'm loving it! I've found trying to beat my times on a smaller distance surprisingly motivating. I'm also trying to improve my form, which is challenging too. I've started noticing that I look forward to these runs and don't look for excuses not to go because they are only short, and very manageable with everything I've got going on.</div><div><br /></div><div>What works for you will often change, as you and your life do. If you try and fight that, I think that's when a lot of people become miserable and down on themselves. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think, in a way, perhaps I needed to find a way to fall back in love with running the way I did with writing, when I took the <a href="http://www.skinnylattestrikesback.com/search/label/arvon">Arvon course</a> last year. I was burned out and bored and couldn't see a way to keep up this enormous task I'd set myself. By stepping back and allowing myself the pleasure and freedom of writing <b>just for the sheer joy of it </b>I found a way forward. </div><div><br /></div><div>Running shorter distances a couple of times a week, and a longer run at the weekends just to mix things up, is keeping me happy and is enough to keep me fit and looking and feeling good, so that's what I'm going to do - that's good enough, for now. I don't have any big events on the horizon. I just want to keep my fitness and my figure, and even after five years at goal I'm still learning the best ways for me to do that, with everything else in life that's important to me and that I try to make a priority, because it changes. All the time. When I have a goal that is related to my health and fitness - like the marathon - it becomes the priority. But when I have other goals I want to achieve, it has to share the spotlight in my life! Sometimes I'm good at making sure that happens, other times (because my fitness is a sulky little thing that just stays quiet if it gets ignored!) it takes a few weeks of sedentary-ness to get things back into gear. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I've said many times, I think life is one big balancing act. You can have it all but sometimes not all at once. There are so, so many things I want to do in my life, but to do all the things I want to do I have to be honest with myself about where my priorities are. I juggle lots of things - I work full time and my spare time is spent working on this blog, working on my book, sorting out my new home (who would have thought looking for something as simple as curtain fabric would take a whole Saturday?!), keeping fit, trying to have some semblance of a social life, and loads of other things. All those things are important to me and I wouldn't have life any other way. But I've realised, after a year of counselling and many, many penny drop moments over the years, that beating myself up about not being 100% perfect in one area of my life is not productive and does not add to my happiness, when everything actually is <i>my choice, </i>to do or to not do something. </div><div><br /></div><div>So deciding not to do this half marathon today was not just a practical decision, but it was also a way to practice being kind to myself. The world was not going to end if I didn't do it. And not doing it didn't mean I was lazy, or not dedicated, or any of the less-than-flattering things I sometimes tell myself I am. It just meant I didn't want to do it this time around, and that's ok. I'm dedicated to living the happiest life possible. I'm also dedicated to my fitness, to maintaining it, and to being and feeling the best I can, in whatever circumstances I find myself in. I'll do what I need to do to get what I want. And what I want, right now, more than anything, is to get that second draft done!! Shorter runs are keeping me fit and sane, and enabling me to fit much needed rewriting and editing time in, so that's what I'm doing.</div><div><br /></div><div>For a long time, I kept the creative and fitness-running nut sides of myself separate. I think that was where a lot of the problem was - it was all or nothing and the two didn't work in harmony. Either I was completely in the zone with running, and my creative work would be collecting dust; or I'd be working away on my novel or on other writing projects, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd gone for a run. I didn't like living that way because I always felt disappointed in myself, and always felt like something was missing. And no wonder, because these two sides of my personality are so fundamental to who I am and to what makes me happy. It took a while for it to sink in, but I slowly realised...<i>why can't I be both? Why can't I be a creative bohemian type who also loves to run? Why do I have to keep picking one or the other?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xwoxqLPrd4Y/TmVQ5YhQe_I/AAAAAAAAC1s/ZniMvmekmm0/s1600/IMG_7381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xwoxqLPrd4Y/TmVQ5YhQe_I/AAAAAAAAC1s/ZniMvmekmm0/s320/IMG_7381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, writing my novel, Moet at the ready! In my element.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y58l0Icfyow/TZHMEeSWBoI/AAAAAAAACuc/pN1k-g80wmA/s1600/Phil02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y58l0Icfyow/TZHMEeSWBoI/AAAAAAAACuc/pN1k-g80wmA/s320/Phil02.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me running a 16 miler. Also in my element! </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>It was a conversation with my wonderful friend <a href="http://blog.verdandi.co.nz/">Leonie</a> back in June, around a fire, with whisky in hand, at <a href="http://www.sasmagicalmysterytour.com/2011/07/love-wins/">a beautiful wedding</a>, when Tom and I were first contemplating the move out of London, that really helped me sort this thinking out. I voiced a long-held worry that if I moved away from London, the exciting bustle of cosmopolitan life, then I wouldn't be interesting any more. I loved the city, but I also loved the country and wanted a break from the relentless pace of city life and everything you need to do just to stay alive there. I thought back to my trip to Mumbai in May and how much I loved it there, how the energy of that vibrant place got under my skin and made me think "<i>ooh, I'm a city person!</i>" I didn't want to give up that part of myself. But I also wanted organic veggies, and Rent-A-Hen, and clean air. I felt so torn. Leonie looked at me with her wise, kind eyes and said "who says you have to be one or the other? Why can't you be both?" </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't really have an answer for that. </div><div><br /></div><div>And so I started trying to give everything I love, everything that makes me happy, a chance in my life, instead of switching back and forth between selves all the time. And I found that all this needless worrying and torturing myself, and a constant soundtrack of "it's not good enough", despite everything I've done and all the evidence I had to the contrary, started to fall away. It's not to say I don't have those days still, because I do, but it's a tune that comes on the radio every now and then these days, rather than every ad break<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> <i>like the sodding Auto Glass ad.....</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe I'll run another marathon one day, and then it'll be the whole gung-ho-action stations-up at 6am routine that I persevered with for 12 weeks at the beginning of the year - and it was 100% worth it, and I'd do it again, no hesitation. But right now, some other colours are being threaded on to my little rich tapestry and I'm cool with that.</div><div><br /></div><div>It might seem like something small, but coming on here and admitting all this to you guys has been kind of therapeutic! I'm really trying to walk my own talk a bit more, by being flexible, not being hard on myself (but also giving myself a reality check when I know I've been a bit lazy!), and just trying to do the best I can. If something is important to me, I will give it everything I have; and if it isn't then I'll just be honest with myself and let it go, so I have room for everything else. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>How about you? How do you strike a balance between giving yourself a reality check and </b><b>giving yourself credit</b><b>? How do you practice being kind to yourself? </b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/228287313_k9kskut3_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/228287313_k9kskut3_c.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/228287313/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-860155217356832974?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-52322789795018304432011-11-06T15:21:00.000Z2011-11-06T15:21:18.878Zthe inner beauty of the celeriac<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/571483ec06ef11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage5.instagram.com/571483ec06ef11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Celeriac is not the most attractive vegetable on earth, is it? That photo almost tops the hernia module that passed through my editing queue at work a few months back!! ;)<br /><br />And did you know that the mandrakes in the Harry Potter films were actually celeriac?!<br /><br />Lucky for the celeriac, what it lacks in looks it makes up for in taste. It's an absolutely delicious vegetable!<br /><br />This weeks veggie box delivered my first ever celeriac and I had no idea what to do with it, until I remembered seeing a potato gratin recipe that included celeriac, and then there was no doubt in my mind what to do with this curious looking vegetable.<br /><br />Potato gratin has been one of my most favourite things since I was a child. My mum used to make the most divine recipe - loaded with garlic, cream and cheese. It was a standard inclusion in any of her dinner party menus, and there was always some left over. The morning after a dinner party, the kitchen would be littered with cooking debris and leftovers. My parents would be still in bed, weary from champagne and merriment, and my sisters and I would have a delicious indulgent breakfast of the leftovers - usually garlic bread, strawberries, creme caramel and potato gratin! Sounds yuck, but to a nine year old it was wonderfully decadent.<br /><br />If you love potato gratin, or end up with a celeriac in your veggie box and don't know what to do with it (!), give this a try. I borrowed the technique from Nigella Lawson's recipe for Potato Gratin in her third book, <i>Nigella Bites</i>, where she cooks the potato mixture in a saucepan first. It's a great idea - the flavours blend together beautifully. What I have done this time is omit milk in favour of lighter, more savoury tastes of white wine and vegetable stock - and don't worry about the amount of wine, the alcohol cooks out and you end up with a lovely flavour. To get the creaminess, you add some light cream at the end of cooking. The addition of the celeriac makes the whole thing lovely and light too, because it has the texture of a potato, but tastes like celery. So if, when you think of potato gratin, you think "starchy stodge" then think again!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/77e8a9fc073c11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/77e8a9fc073c11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Potato and celeriac gratin</b><br /><br /><i>You will need:</i><br /><br />4 medium potatoes, peeled<br />1 celeriac, peeled<br />1 onion, sliced<br />4 cloves of garlic, peeled<br />2 cups white wine<br />2 cups vegetable stock<br />Plenty of salt and pepper (added to your taste)<br />1 small pot (284ml) light double cream (I like Elmlea)<br />30g mild organic cheddar (optional)<br />Flat leaf parsley, chopped<br /><br /><i>Directions:</i><br /><br />Preheat the oven to 200 C.<br /><br />Slice the potatoes and celeriac (not too thin, not too thick) and place in a large, heavy saucepan. Add the onion, garlic,white wine, vegetable stock, with salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine and place on the stove, over a medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes and celeriac are soft. If you can break the potato or celeriac with your wooden spoon, that's a good indication that it's ready.<br /><br />If there is still quite a bit of liquid left at this stage, drain it off into a jug to use as a sauce or as stock for cooking vegetables in later. You want some liquid left but you don't want it to look like a stew. <br /><br />Put the pot back on the stove, turn the heat right down and add the little pot of light cream. Stir so everything is mixed thoroughly.<br /><br /> Pour the mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle with flat leaf parsley and some cheddar if using, and put in the oven for about 35-40 minutes or until browned and bubbling. Let it stand for 5 or 10 minutes before serving.<br /><br />I do not have the words for how delicious this was - I think it's the best gratin I've ever made! If you ever think about making any of my recipes, please, <i>please </i>make this one. We all need a bit of luxury now and then, and if you're after something really special to go with your piece of steak, fish or tofu, then this is it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/88d67d52073c11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/88d67d52073c11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I served the gratin with a piece of grilled smoked tofu, carrots (also cooked in white wine!) and broccoli. But the star of the dinner really was our bottle of 2008 Craiglee Chardonnay:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/9ac99e0c088811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/9ac99e0c088811e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shown with our starter of grilled figs stuffed with goats cheese, and rocket salad</td></tr></tbody></table>Craiglee is our favourite drop and our usual Friday night pizza or "cleaning out the fridge pie" wasn't really going to cut it, so I made Tom a delicious 3 course dinner to magnify the opulence of the wine! Well, <a href="http://www.gupuds.com/our-puds/after-dark-ramekins/after-dark-hot-chocolate-souffle">Gu</a> made the dessert, but I made everything else :)<br /><br />The whole meal was utterly lovely, I do love it when we spoil ourselves. And we enjoyed the gratin so much that we think we might <i>ask </i>Abel and Cole for another celeriac!!<br /><br /><b>Have you ever cooked with celeriac? And are you a gratin lover as well? :) </b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-5232278979501830443?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-62290083460039965722011-11-03T14:53:00.000Z2011-11-03T14:53:12.265Zsix weeks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/47624063_T7rfMLXG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/47624063_T7rfMLXG_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/47624063/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>This time in six weeks, Tom and I are on a plane bound for Sydney!!!<br /><br /><b>I can't wait.</b><br /><br />I haven't been home since 2009!! And this time we're coming back for a long stretch, so we'll be able to enjoy quality time with family and friends. A brief stop in Sydney, then Hobart, then finishing with Melbourne. Oh, it's going to be sweet!<br /><br />I don't get homesick all that often, the only thing guaranteed to make me homesick is listening to Crowded House (!), but I can't deny that, lately, with my tin of T2 Melbourne Breakfast tea getting emptier by the day, I've had a hankering for the comforts of home and am <i>so</i> looking forward to enjoying the following:<br /><br /><i>(most of them are food and grog, just to warn you!)</i><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carmanskitchen.com.au/images/classic_fruit_muesli.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.carmanskitchen.com.au/images/classic_fruit_muesli.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carmanskitchen.com.au/classic_fruit_muesli.php">Carman's</a> muesli! Have only ever found the muesli bars here the UK :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tamarvalleydairy.com.au/images/Greek%20Range/passion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tamarvalleydairy.com.au/images/Greek%20Range/passion.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tamarvalleydairy.com.au/">Tamar Valley</a> yoghurt! OMG I've missed this!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.solidrecipe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lamingtons-Photos-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.solidrecipe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lamingtons-Photos-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamingtons!! I am crap at making my own so have gone without :)<br />(<a href="http://cdn.solidrecipe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lamingtons-Photos-2.jpg">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/318115_10150256599382517_13321072516_7988978_5541075_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/318115_10150256599382517_13321072516_7988978_5541075_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fullersbookshop.com.au/fullers-hobart">Fullers Bookshop</a> in Hobart, one of my most favourite places on earth, a sanctuary of mine from way back.<br />Can't wait to get all the books I've been hearing about on The Book Show but can't buy here!<br />I am going with an empty suitcase, by the way. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150256599382517&set=a.393951512516.179268.13321072516&type=3&theater">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7tnNM_07F2U/Sv2ds2ICbZI/AAAAAAAACPs/3TTjdOza_IU/s1600/IMG_9259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7tnNM_07F2U/Sv2ds2ICbZI/AAAAAAAACPs/3TTjdOza_IU/s320/IMG_9259.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melbourne coffee. Enough said.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlbmcJ49nZU/Sv2eTqeCBGI/AAAAAAAACQ8/i6RUGIrl_2U/s1600/IMG_9932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlbmcJ49nZU/Sv2eTqeCBGI/AAAAAAAACQ8/i6RUGIrl_2U/s320/IMG_9932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer! James Squire Golden Ale is where it's at.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/site_media/img/img-header-sportsgirl-logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/site_media/img/img-header-sportsgirl-logo.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh Sportsgirl, how I've missed you! (<a href="http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHLjigy2UBjBjCKi9Qd1kl6dI0cW2lNnfYvoUEQa0pXhnEp-Ta" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHLjigy2UBjBjCKi9Qd1kl6dI0cW2lNnfYvoUEQa0pXhnEp-Ta" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shanghai Dumpling House, my old Melbourne hangout! <br />A few scenes in my book take place here, I have to go back for research purposes, surely? ;)<br />(<a href="http://www.fashionhayley.com/2008/04/reader-request-vegetarian-guide-to.html">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://arnotts.com/downloads/varieties/60bd_mintslice__minisitedetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://arnotts.com/downloads/varieties/60bd_mintslice__minisitedetail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arnott's Mint Slice. Oh my. (<a href="http://arnotts.com/our-products/products/variety-detail.aspx?o=854">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And this is just what came to mind off the top of my head.....there's loads more! I've had a list in the back of my Filofax since April of things I want to bring back with me! And it goes without saying that cuddles with my new niece, nephew and all the other babies that have been born since 2009 features high on that list too! I can't wait to see everyone, I've been missing people a lot lately. <br /><br />And an Aussie Christmas, for the first time since 2006! What a treat :) This will be the first Christmas Tom has had my with family too, so I'm looking forward to sharing my family's traditions with him as he has with me. Last Christmas looked like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhB8dEwqQAQ/TrKcr4nMwPI/AAAAAAAADEo/SWuf6bcXgd4/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhB8dEwqQAQ/TrKcr4nMwPI/AAAAAAAADEo/SWuf6bcXgd4/s320/IMG_5193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sorry to rub it in my darlings, but I'm stoked that I'll be missing approximately half of the UK winter!! :) But I will be in Tassie, so anything could happen there. I remember one Christmas where there was snow on Mt Wellington, so I shouldn't crow too loudly just yet!<br /><br />But in addition to overloading on all my old favourites I've been nostalgic for over the past few years, I'm looking forward to discovering some new things that have sprouted up since I left. Everyone raves about <a href="http://mona.net.au/">MONA</a>, the newest art gallery in Tassie. We'll be heading there for sure. <br /><br />And in case you were wondering, yes, my running gear is coming with me, so I can indulge with a clear conscience, as it were :)<br /><br />Six weeks!! Be prepared for a very excited Phil until then!<br /><br /><b>Are you going home for the holidays this year?</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/185897415_o5CoJa7T_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/185897415_o5CoJa7T_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/185897415/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9052912418510905527-6229008346003996572?l=www.skinnylattestrikesback.com' alt='' /></div>philippa_moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17917806436918507229noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052912418510905527.post-22332890585398669152011-11-02T09:00:00.002Z2011-11-08T21:57:07.791Zrice rice baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Tkdvynkqzg/TrBhbYBiFDI/AAAAAAAADEg/-2i2ZXvA4fU/s1600/IMG_7854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Tkdvynkqzg/TrBhbYBiFDI/AAAAAAAADEg/-2i2ZXvA4fU/s320/IMG_7854.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Have you ever tried rice milk?<br /><br />It was a bit over four years ago that I began the adventure into non dairy milks. Tom and I had recently become a couple, and most weekends I would go out to visit him, as he didn't live in London at the time. He only drank soy milk as he had been told that cow's milk would flare up his eczema, which he was suffering from quite badly at the time. So I got used to having soy milk in my tea, and surprisingly, I really liked it, especially when it was brought to me in bed in the morning :)<br /><br />I had tried soy milk back in Australia but had found it too nutty, almost bitter, for my taste. I'd heard of other non dairy milks, such as rice and oat, but they seemed to be purely in health food shops which, despite my new found passion for health and fitness, I didn't frequent all that often at the time. I remember my pal <a href="http://ombites.blogspot.com/">Mary</a> doing a detox and her having rice milk on her muesli and thinking "ooh! I wonder what that's like?" and never getting much further than that!<br /><br />So, it was skinny lattes all the way back in Australia. Hence, why the title of this blog appealed in the first place ;) Chai is more my latte of choice these days, but <b>Chai Latte Strikes Back</b> doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?<br /><br />While I don't think rice milk lattes are going to be at Starbucks any time soon, it's certainly been on my radar since being more aware of allergies and dairy free alternatives since I moved to the UK, where I've found, to my pleasure and surprise, that nearly every dietary condition or choice is catered for. Even the tiny suburb on the outskirts of North London where Tom and I first lived together three years ago had a health food store. Everything is so readily available and I love that!<br /><br />Tom and I regularly buy organic soy milk for our tea and coffee, and we use oat milk for cereals, smoothies and cooking. So I'm now well versed in the non dairy alternatives and have got quite used to them over the years. When I go out I'll have a skinny latte sometimes - well, I have to keep up the image! - but I've got used to soy and oat.<br /><br />The kind people at <a href="http://www.ricedream.co.uk/">Rice Dream</a> sent me some of their <a href="http://www.ricedream.co.uk/our-rice-dream-products?slide=6#slides">original</a>, <a href="http://ricedream.co.uk/our-rice-dream-products?slide=4#slides">Hazelnut Almond</a>, and their new product, <a href="http://www.oatdream.co.uk/">Oat Dream</a>, to try. So it was goin