April Monthly Favourites

by HollyApril 30, 2019

Apart from the few days of sunny sunshine here are some of my favourite bits.

FAVOURITE SONG

You know one of those songs that come on the radio or is recommended on a Spotify playlist and you think I really like this song. Well this one by Lissa Lo called All I need is one of those. I’ve got the chorus as my ringtone as I don’t like your bog standard ones 🙈

FAVOURITE FOOD

These have always been a fave but particularly this month. Needed a pick me up and they were there for me

FAVOURITE QUOTE

We worry so much about things that have happened and realistically we can’t do anything about so this quote says it all.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

As I’m still healing from having my bladder removed I’ve not really ventured very far but I did manage one day with mum to go down town in the wheelchair and spend some cash.

I got a few toiletries in boots – make up can wait, then went and got some pjs in Peacocks and some undies. On our way home there is a St Margarets Hospice charity shop so we decided to have a nosey. I got about 6 or 7 items which I’ll show you once the weather’s warmer. I always like to give my unwanted clothes to them as that was the hospice my brother was at.

Little victories this month 😊

Oooo and I managed some chips from the chippy since my appetite has been a bit pants this was a real treat.

What’s been your faves this month?

MARCH FAVOURITES

by HollyMarch 30, 2019

As March has been a bit of a right off for me I thought I’d just wrack my brains for some things that have bought a smile to my face.

FOOD

Noisette potatoes… Had them in the hospital bit of nostalgia from my childhood. Like little balls of potato in batter. Delish.

SONG

Jim Reeves – I love you because. My poorly great aunt ( who’s had a stroke) said put Jim reeves on and when I played this she mouthed all the words. Bless her heart. The lyrics are beautiful 😍

LISTEN HERE

APP OF THE MONTH

Pottery lite – it’s therapeutic, you throw a pot then decorate it then sell it at a pretend auction. It’s rather addictive and is good if you want to fill in some empty time.

QUOTE

Purely because of what I’ve endured these past weeks.

Let me know down below something in your March that’s made you happy.

ROLL ON APRIL 🙈

My Monthly Favourites For December

by HollyDecember 29, 2018

First of all i want to congratulate myself.

I’ve actually managed to stick to a whole year of writing my monthly favourites…small accomplishments and all that.

Anyways lets get on with this months faves.

FAVOURITE SONG

Play by Jax Jones and Years and years. It’s one I’ve very recently discovered and i absolutely love it.

FAVOURITE FOOD

These were things I’d never tried before but without a doubt I’d have it again and again – obviously had sprouts before but not with anything added to them. Stollen is a German cake i think with marzipan, fruit and other yummy things and looks a bit like fruit loaf but it’s so much more fancier.

FAVOURITE APPS

I Really enjoy my instagram stories and it’s good to try stand out. I think last month i done pocket video which can be used anywhere on social. But these 3 are especially for Instagram. Worth downloading to have a play around.

FAVOURITE QUOTE

The quote speaks for itself and doesn’t really need any explanation.

So December is nearly over and it’s been one hell of a month. Roll on the new year i say.

I do hope you all still aren’t eating turkey sandwiches.

(Got to be a long standing Christmas joke)

TTFN – ta ta for now for all who were thinking what on earth does that mean

MONTHLY FAVES – OCTOBER

by HollyOctober 27, 2018

The end of the month is nearly here so I have gathered together some of my favourites of this October.

October is my favourite for two reasons: Its officially autumn and that’s the season where I feel I am most in love with. Although where I live it is taking the leaves a bit longer to change colour but I am patient, they will in their own time I guess. Secondly, it’s my birthday month. I spent it with family and a few days after my friends which means more to me than any presents. Plus the older you get, the less you get, unless your a lucky so and so.

MY FAVOURITE SONG

This song by Jess Glynne gives me all the feels. It’s about not needing makeup to feel beautiful. I grew up plastering myself in the stuff because I felt ugly without. If you need that self-confidence pick me up song this is it.

MY FAVOURITE FOOD

With a birthday you always got to have Cake and alcoholic beverages and in my case, we had a cheese night too. My Nannys favourite cakes were always Mr Kiplings Country Slices so they were bought in memory of her and because they are yummy. One friend bought some cupcakes, I mean who doesn’t love a cupcake? All in all, I put on about 3 or 4 pounds but birthdays are for celebrating anyway.

MY SKINCARE FAVES

I never really fork out on skincare products because I think if it doesn’t do my skin any good its a total waste of money. I was willing to take a gamble as my face had become really dry and my normal stuff wasn’t helping in the slightest. I had a nose on Beauty Bay and I stumbled across Mario Badescu. I had heard about their drying lotion being a hit but I wanted something to do the complete opposite. So these 4 things made their way to my house and so far so good. Been a week or so I’ll keep you in the loop in a later post.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

This is such a powerful quote, it goes for my brother who I won’t ever see, or speak to again – but i hold so many memories of him that I can treasure forever. This also goes for people that are still with us that maybe we don’t see very often but you have so many stories to tell that are stored up in your mind. Those memories are one of a kind and they are yours to keep.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your October has been awesome too.

Til next time

I have a big butt and I can not lie

by HollyAugust 26, 2018

I am starting to feel less confident with my body and i think it’s because as i sit down in my wheelchair everything gets squashed by gravity pulling it down. I have always been on a rollercoaster ride with my weight, you can read it here:

food and me – my story

However i have spotted that i am forever grabbing the sugary options and need to really think of the goodness my body needs. I do love healthy food it’s just i am easily led when it comes to a treat.

There’s 10 inches between my waist and my bum. My waist is 30 and my bum is 40. There’s nothing wrong with being an hourglass shape. I just think i owe it to myself to think about how I’m feeding it junk.

I have downloaded this app known to so many of you…

It says i am allowed 1240 calories a day. Which i think is plenty. I just need to even out what i am eating and make sure i am allowing a couple treats but healthier ones otherwise I’d fall off the wagon.

Exercise is hard for me because of my health problems and mobility so going on a diet it is.

I think I’ll start tomorrow as its the beginning of the week and whenever you are on a diet these are the famous words

I will keep you up to date, probably monthly as you may get fed up of me withering on about it.

Let me know your thoughts below.

Its too bloody hot

by HollyJuly 10, 2018

For someone who is always freezing cold as i suffer with poor circulation, its uncomfortably hot.

We are so lucky at the moment that us English are having this heatwave, as we rarely have a good summer…maybe a few days and that’s it

Hands up who really wants a spot of rain or a storm to break it up?

I know i bloody do.

It’s like as soon as the weather changes you go off eating normal meals and just snack or have salads or barbeque food. The alcohol gets consumed more to cool you down and because you can enjoy a beer garden somewhere.

I guess we shouldn’t moan and just appreciate good weather when we have it.

I’m sorry my blog posts have been a bit hit and miss at the moment I promise once it cools down I’ll be back into the swing of it

Stay safe in the sun

Much loves xxx

A glimpse of the summer

by HollyApril 15, 2018

Many apologies for no post on Saturday

I usually write my blog posts and publish them on the same day and it just so happened that we had a few visitors and because the weather was actually nice my Mum took me out for a spin in the wheelchair.

It was so nice to see some sunshine for once. I didn’t need my winter warmers just a hoody.

We ended the day with pie and chips from the chippy. It was bloody lovely.

I hear that England are actually going to have 2/3 days of hot weather this week coming so i best find something summery from last year that still fits fingers crossed.

Heres to a fab week ahead 😘

March – Currently Loving

by HollyMarch 27, 2018

I actually can’t get over that its the end of March….this year is going so damn fast. You know this is one of my favourite types of posts to write – reflecting on the joyful things from the 3rd month.

– So lets jump on in –

BE MY BABY EU DE PARUM

I only bought this on Friday but I already have fallen in love with it. Primark are smashing it with their fragrances. This was £8 for 100ml – such a summery/ romantic scent. Definitely a must for an everyday perfume. I think I am going to have to get an atomiser so i can have some in my bag as the bottle is rather large.

BURLESQUE SOUNDTRACK

This is a beaut of an album. Burlesque is one film I could watch time and time again, wishing I could dance like that. Cher and Christina are fab in it. The songs have quite a sensual beat. Different…but I like different. My favourite song has to be… The beautiful people.

FEARNE COTTON

I have mentioned Fearne on my blog a few times of late…only because I think she is an awesome human being. I love her outlook on a calm/reflective life. She has a pretty cool podcast out ‘Happy Place’ that never disappoints as she delves into the lives of some well-loved celebs. I follow her on Instagram too. Her stories on there are so relatable and that’s why I think I like her.

SAUSAGES

This is new to me was never partial to a sausage (stop laughing) only a vegetarian one but for the last few times we have been out for a meal I have opted for a nice Cumberland one or two. Pair them with egg and chips and a dollop of mayo and it’s a real yummy dish. A bit unhealthy but everyone deserves a treat.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S8

I had been having some issues with my iPhone 6s for a while with the battery needing to be charged 3/4 times a day. I just had enough and found out how much was owing on my contract. It wasn’t a great deal so I upgraded to a Samsung and waved bye-bye to Apple. However, he is now more of a camera/iPod than a phone. The Samsung S8 is really fantastic I love the ease of it and the extras you can do on there and not on the iPhone. I obviously had to get it in pink cos that’s my colour.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

This is such a simple quote but has a big meaning. I think that ordinary is boring and if you have something different to you than anyone else that’s what makes you extraordinary.

I hope you all have had a good March

Thanks for stopping by, til Next time…

FOOD AND ME – MY STORY

by HollyOctober 23, 2017

There’s only a selective few that can eat what they want and never gain weight or inches. Unfortunately I don’t fall into that category.

My weight has always been a bit of a problem to me if not to anyone else.

I would say from about 2003 I saw my weight creeping on…there were two reasons for that

I worked in a fast food restaurant so food was in my face literally all the time.
I was on the contraceptive injection and it seemed to pile the pounds on.

I remember being 12 stone at the age of 18 and a size 14-16 and it kept creeping on by the end of 2006 I was 13 stone 10.

I was so miserable as you can see by my face so I started going to weight watchers. I loved that you could eat whatever you liked as long as you were within your points. I lost 4 stone in a year following this way of eating. Soon it became quite obsessive that I had to keep losing weight as I believed that perfect people weren’t 10 stone.

I stuck to smaller portion sizes and didn’t snack between my main meals and over a year and a half I got to about 8 and a half stone. Perfect I thought. So why was I still shrinking?

I moved out of my childhood home in 2010 and I lived off a weekly shop of £20 which consisted of super noodles on toast, cottage pie, corned beef and tuna. Not a fruit or vegetable in sight and dropped down to 7 stone 7 pounds which was probably looked on as anorexic but I did eat just not healthy food.

I suppose getting Ill in 2013 and having to move home helped my weight gain. Mum was building me up with her homemade meals and some junk food for good measure. Then 2015 I had a huge operation on my bladder and I was really low so I turned to food for comfort. Then going on an antidepressant for a short time didn’t help.

I’ve gained 3 Stone in 4 years but to be fair my body has been through a lot of upset and food was what I would turn to.
So today as I’m writing to you I’m 10 stone 7 and a size 12. I have been eating a lot of chocolate and cheese lately which my waistline isn’t too happy about. So today I am on a healthier diet that I hope can shift a bit as being short my weight shows.

This was my lunch and I really enjoyed it.

I’m going to eat 1200 calories a day or aim for that and hope for a little miracle.

I’ll keep you informed on how I get on and hopefully you’ll see me post a full length once I’m happy as at the mo I can’t bring myself to do it.

Thanks for reading

Til next time…

AUGUST FAVES

by HollyAugust 29, 2017

Here are a few things that I’ve loved in the month of August.

If I had spent more time out of hospital than in there would be loads more but here’s what I came up with.

Ok so here goes…..

HP SPROCKET PRINTER

I’d had this on my Amazon wish list since just after Christmas and when I first went into hospital I was feeling rather down so I thought 8 months was long enough to keep the HP Sprocket waiting so I bought it. Totally worth waiting for. You just download the app that goes with it and buy the printer paper 2×3 of any make (as it’s cheaper not being HP) and away you go. Below I have a few ideas I may use mine for.

AN OLD FAVOURITE I FOUND – LOVERDOSE PERFUME

I reckon it was about 3 years ago I first bought this. It has a very girly smell not as strong as Britneys signature perfumes. I’ll hold my hand up and admit I still have Fantasy in my perfume collection.

Anyway, I was on Superdrug’s website looking for a present for my friend and there Loverdose was. I was like oh my, that’s nostalgic. My Mum decided to treat me to it cos she’s such a babe. So now I smell bloody beautiful.

A SPLASH OF COLOUR TO THE GARDEN SHED

Those of you that follow me on my blog Instagram would have already seen this. Finally, our little shed at the bottom of the garden had a makeover. I absolutely love it. We went with a purple door because I wasn’t allowed a pink one so it was a compromise. Now looking out on even the shittiest of days the garden will still brighten my day.

GLAMOURS PODCAST – A MUST LISTEN

You know that purple app on your iPhone that you think is rather pointless. It’s actually full of hilarious and informative stuff. Podcasts have been my saviour of late as they are so relaxing to listen to when you feel a bit anxious. So Glamour has a 40-ish minute podcast with celebrities talking about all sorts of topics ranging from social media to problems, to things that irritate you. It’s Called Hey, it’s ok… It’s definitely a laugh out loud Podcast and if you needed a pick me up this is it. My favourites have been Rylan, Fearne Cotton and Dawn O’ Porter. Don’t diss the purple app, go take a look.

Last but not least is a random favourite

WARBURTON CRUMPETS
I pretty much eat these on a daily basis only because they are very low fat and the calories are too. I love having sweet or savoury on them. Honey or cheese has to be my favourite choice at the moment. Quick to do and only £1 what’s not to like.

BYE BYE AUGUST…BRING ON SEPTEMBER I AM AN AUTUMNAL BIRD AT HEART