Intermediate Yoga

I love YOGA!! There I said it, I can't seem to get enough at the moment.

I started about 8 months ago with one class on a Monday, I then took on an extra class on a Wednesday about five months ago. Both were beginner classes but still tough enough to keep me interested. I have loved seeing how far I can push myself, week by week inching myself a little further into the bends and twists. Filling with joy and calm as my focus and balance poses improve. I have gone from fingertips brushing the floor in a forward bend, to standing on my palms!

I had always been aware of the intermediate class but never imagined I would ever feel confident enough to take the plunge. Until it was suggested to me by my instructor. When the person you look to for guidance gives you the thumbs up, it makes you wonder why you have been so apprehensive all this time. So I went for it, I gave up my Wednesday and joined in with the big kids on a Thursday.

I think I was expecting the class to be full of young bendy types, able to stand on their heads and hold a plank for hours on end, but I was wrong. At least I was pleasantly surprised, there were a variety of people, old and young, bendy and stiff all looking to improve and develop their practice. I know you shouldn't gauge yourself by others, but being the newbie I was pleased not to be the worst in the class, I know that sounds shallow but I only mean it in the respect that I felt I was where I needed to be, and wouldn't be struggling to keep up.

It has also inspired me to practice more at home, maybe not the mediation I find that nigh on impossible with the distractions of home. But definitely a few Sun Salutations and other poses I didn't quite nail in class.

Have you ever held yourself back, and then wondered why when you finally let go?

Kitchen Wish List

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but my favourite colour is orange. It verges on obsession, but it is mostly contained within my kitchen, (when it come to home décor anyway). So I thought I would put together a little wish list of things for my kitchen. 

1. Ramekins

2. Kenwood KMix

3. Orange Paper Straws with Stars

4. Mixing Bowl

I love the idea of ramekins, not sure if I'd ever use them for their correct purpose, but they look like a good place to keep your rings and things while you wash up.
The Kenwood KMix has been something I have been lusting after for a long time now, it's so beautiful. I just can't seem to justify the cost especially with the wedding on the horizon, (hang on maybe I can sneak it in the budget seeing as I'm making the wedding cake...).
Pretty orange paper straws just because, how cute are they. Good excuse for a cocktail party, but lets face it any excuse is a good excuse.
A beautiful bright orange mixing bowl, I already have a beautiful blue one bought for my by my lovely Mum but you can never have too many mixing bowls, right?

Brighton Tattoo Convention

This weekend we did something a bit different, we took a trip to Brighton to attend their annual Tattoo convention. 

Brighton Tattoo Convention

It was held at the Hilton hotel in Brighton, and was jam packed full of artists doing their thing. The loud buzz of the tattoo guns was overpowering as you walked in, with two floors full with artists from all over the world.

Our only complaint would be that there seemed to be a lot of people doing the same thing, I understand that the traditional Sailor Jerry style is very much in fashion at the moment and so where the money is,  but it would have been nice to see a bit more variety.

By Paco at Gilded Cage Tattoo

One stand that did impress was Gilded Cage Tattoo a lot of the designs were so intricate and detailed. I fell in love with the above print and had to have it for our home. There was actually a girl getting this tattooed on her leg while we were there, beautiful.

I was even more surprised to find out that they are actually based in Brighton, think a visit may be on the cards in the not too distant future...

We picked up a few other business cards too, saw some friends who were manning the Sailor Jerry stand, and Alexis Camburn from Holy Cow Tattoo she was engrossed in her work so didn't get to say Hi. Overall it was a great day and I'm really glad we went, not sure we'll be there next year but you never know. 

Practice Cupcakes

Not too shabby if I do say so myself. Just threw together some basic vanilla cupcakes they weren't really the important part. I just needed something to practise my newly learnt skills, and ideas on.

The flowers are maybe a little big for cupcakes, but I wasn't going to buy 2 different sized cutters just for practising.

It also gave me a chance to have a play with the colouring, surprising how little you need, I might have a bit more fun with it next time though and make the flowers a bit darker in the middle.

The top 2 cakes on the right were done utilising a lattice stamp that gives a quilted effect, you are meant to rock it around the side of a big cake, but it gives a rough idea of what it should look like.

Overall I'm pleased with how they came out and feel pretty confident that I'll be able to decorate the final wedding cake without it looking too, ''homemade''. Think a little more practise is in order, but at least I can make some tasty mistakes.

Do you think I'm mad trying to make and decorate my own wedding cake?

Bookshop Thai

As part of our New Year goals we made a pact not to order take aways. So at the end of each month if we succeed we can treat ourselves to a night out. So we did it, and Saturday night the Bookshop Thai was our restaurant of choice.

It literally is a Thai restaurant in a bookshop, we love books so being surrounded by them while we ate really was a treat. We were seated in a little nook, quite early evening so it was nice and quiet too.  

I can't remember the names of all the dishes but they were all delicious, we will definitely revisit this little gem.

As you can see I made an attempt to use my camera a bit more, the quality still isn't great and I still have a long way to go, but I'm working on it :o)

Running to Work

I have decided that seeing as I have already signed up for the half marathon I need to get a few more runs in. Unfortunately I wasn't finding it all that easy, so I have decided to run to and from work a few days a week. So far I have only done it twice, but so far so good, I just have to make sure I leave all my stuff at work the day before, oh and baby wipes.

As you can see from todays run to work I am really not that quick, which is fine I'm ok with that, plenty of time for improvement during the rest of my life. I am just starting to really freak out about the half marathon. I really think I have made a bit of a mistake signing up, as I am sooo not ready. I have less than 2 months left ahhhh.

Think I am going to have to just try my best, run as much as I possibly can so I can get a time, any time. Then put all my efforts into smashing that awful time next time around.

Have you ever got a bit ahead of yourself with what you think you can achieve.   

Sugar Roses

I don't know if I've mentioned but I am planning to make my own wedding cake. They just seem so expensive and putting the word wedding in front of anything seems to bump up the price ten fold, so I though I would give it a bash. 

We had decided on a traditional fruit cake as this is on of our favourites, it can also be baked months in advance so that would take some of the pressure off. But I still wanted it to look a bit fancy so on Saturday I attended a cake decorating class with my mum and aunt to learn how to make sugar roses.

We started with a tear drop of icing and just started adding petals.

They shape up quite quick,

It can be fiddly and you have to remember to do things in the right order,

I was super pleased with how they came out, a little direction goes a long way.

Also had a quick bash at buttercream roses, they are crazy easy when you know how and have the right tools.

What do you think? Not bad for a first attempt.

We took the class at Dee's Creative Cakes she does do scheduled classed, but you can also book in for a private class if there is something specific you want to do, like we did.