Hello peeps! It’s Thursday already-not long to the weekend now!
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I can’t wait, but I have so much to sort out before my trip. I’ve been making lists galore of things to pack and things that I need to buy before I go. Lists are such amazingly simple things to keep me organised. I’m also hoping to draw up a list of places to see and restaurants that I want to visit so not to waste time whilst I’m there.
Believe it or not, I’m actually making this trip to attend a neuroscience conference, but that seems to have slipped my mind somewhat as I make my preparations- excited much?!?! Hell yeah!!! ๐
This morning I woke up and got straight into an amazing yoga podcast which targets your core, courtesy of Yoga Download.com. It contained the standard boat and plank variations, but also some more challenging poses such as a variation of the downward facing dog where you bring your right knee to the outside of your left elbow. I could really hear my core muscles screeching for mercy in this pose.
I doubt looked half as elegant as the lady in the pic but, I managed to hold this wheel pose for 20 seconds. I was quite amazed with my yogini abilities. If you asked me to that a few months ago I don’t think I would have been able to lift myself from the floor. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you push yourself. ๐
After mastering the wheel pose I had a celebratory green smoothie in a bowl for breakfast. It included spring leaves, celery, a banana, a peach, blueberries, gala melon, mesquite, maca powder, ground flax, acai berry juice, ice cubes, water, hemp protein powder and xanthan gum. All topped off with puffed rice, dried cranberries and a brazilnut bliss swirl…yum!
It’s been a long time since I’ve had any of my Butternut Squash Hummus, so I made a huge batch of it last night for today’s monster salad. I added mixed leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, celery stalks, steamed French beans celery leaves, and piled high a huge portion of hummus.
I love hummus topped salads! ๐
Random afternoon snacks was a vanilla Alpro soya yoghurt and another pink lady apple.
The pudding tasted great! I’ve stirred one of these into my oats a few weeks ago and it was amazing. Iโve just been shopping and got my hands on the dark chocolate variety, but I need to try the caramel flavour that everyone has been talking about. Whilst shopping I fed cereal addiction with the amazing 3 for 3 offer that is currently on in Tescoโsโฆ
โฆI just couldnโt resist these or the punnets of strawberries reduced to 50p so I bought 4โฆeeek! ๐
After finishing up in the lab I headed over to the gym for my second Body Pump class for this week. I can feel the DOMS setting in already. The lunge track is a killer!!
Dinner tonight was a warm salad made using watercress, red pepper, edamame beans, broccoli, sweet potato, hazelnut tofu and a courgette. I added my sweet chilli and tahini dressing on top which went fab with the sweet potato.
Are you going away this summer?
Do you take an organised approach to packing? I never used to as my mum used to re-pack my case for me when I lived at home. Yes that was re- pack as I always made such a mess of it the first time around. I always used to take the throw it all in and hope for the best approach. I would forget to pack so many essentials too.
Do you plan what you are going to do before you go away or just go with the flow when you are out there?
















The good honest crunch cereal is amazing, I’ve been known to eat a handful right out of the pack like candy ๐
So excited for you about Florence!
I always pack really early for trips because it helps me get into the holiday mindset, remember a tip my mum taught me: “always roll, never fold” stops your clothes getting creased and saves space ๐
I’m rubbish at packing, which is odd considering I go away nearly every weekend. Last weekend I forgot to take any underwear with me! I always remember my workout stuff though.
I like planning stuff to do, but I think it’s also good to do what you feel like doing when you get there. I get very jealous of academics going to conferences … they are always in great locations!
JEALOUS i LOVEEEE FLORENCE!!
Haha I am the same with regards to my mum re-packing my packing. In the end I started making a big pile and she’d put it in the case for me. Mum’s have a special touch which means everything fits and comes out crease free! I’m good at remembering stuff but rubbish at the actual getting it in the case.The caramel soy puddings are amazing! It’s the only flavour I’ve tried, I don’t want to get any others in case it’s disappointing.
Ahhh so exciting!! Lucky you! I’d love to go to Florence..or anywhere overseas for that matter!
I’m off to Ibiza on Mon and I’ve had a thorough list planned out for weeks.. I have a blog post half done about my holiday prep to hopefully be posted soon.. whenever I finish it… I’ve had a holiday drawer where I’ve been keeping my holiday clothes so it’s easier to pack when I do… haha it’s almost certain that I’ll still forget at least one item though!
Woo so much cereal! ๐ Love it! Our fridge looks like the Seinfeld shelf!
I love to make lists when packing, and when I was younger I used to take the list with me and tick it off when I packed it all to go home to make sure I did not leave anything behind. I have weaned myself off that now but still pack days in advance. ๐
We also tend to plan our days as we often travel about, so we have a couple of days in one place, then move on, so we book up hotels and transport in between. We do have a few rest days but tend to have a good idea of most days.
Wheel pose is hard, but one thing I would probably never manage to do is the crow pose, I just canยดt hold it even for a second ๐
I am visiting Finnlad, Latvia, Lithunia, Estonia and Sweden in the summer, I am pretty excited about it!! But Florence has been one of my dream destinations for ages!
I am terrible at packing, so I am always a bit affraid that I forget something very important..
I usually have some things I really want to see, but then I adjust my plans when finally being at the place.
The dark chocolate soy dessert is the best! Miles better than the caramel one easily ๐
And the cereal stash- I’m totally going to stock up on cereal when I go to tesco. I’m also going to replenish my peanut butter stash and have one spare and in hiding after what happened yesterday!
No plans for the weekend- studying and some sort of exercise probs x
Happy Friday!
I got a big bag of ripe bananas the other day for 30p! I like to be pretty organised, especially if I’m going to another country, but for my trip to Brighton I’m happy enough just taking it as it comes. I do have a few things planned out including a couple of lovely bloggy meet ups that I’m really looking forward too ๐
1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your hummus . YUM
2. I’m going to Florence in the winter ..tell me how it goes!
Eat at Sostanza – butter chicken is amazin as is the bistecca
Procacci for truffle butter sandwiches
Osteria di Giovanni
Cantinetta Antinori – fabulous food and wines
Il Latini
Have a fabulous time!!