Workout At Home..No Excuses!

If like me you are a busy mum I know exercise is the last thing you want to be thinking about! However if you are feeling lathargic and low of energy, uncomfortable in your own skin or just generally unfit and you know you should do something about it then why not build up your will power and really try and make some changes!  

It might not be right for you, but for me going to the gym or external classes is too expensive and I also don't really have the time to factor in the travelling to and from.  Therefore I prefer to do my exercise at home, on my own turf, in my own time.  If you think this might be for you why not try some DVD's that you can stick on after the kids have gone to bed or before they wake up even?  Anytime that suits you is fine.  

Exercise DVD's are great, you can choose how long you exercise for and when you want to do it by varying the DVD's you use.  Personally I like to work out 3/4 times a week usually doing 3 x 1 hour work outs and 1 x 1/2 hour work out, you can do this too, or you could just 30 mins a day for 5/6 days a week - basically whatever is most convenient for YOU!

Although it might be a pain in the arse when your knackered to get up and start exercising,  I promise you that you will feel so much better for doing it in the short term and the long term.  Here is a selection of workout DVD's I have put together for you ranging from beginners up to a more advanced level:

Click Here For A Selection Of Davina DVDs

Click Here For A Selection Of Jillian Michaels DVDs

Click Here For A Selection Of Bob Harper DVDs

Other DVDs To Try

As you know I am a huge fan of Jillian Michaels who not only provides great workouts but also helps and encourages in other ways too. Click here to see Jillian Michaels answer your questions.  Another way to grab yourself a bit of inspiration to workout is to by some new clothes click here and here to see some of my reviews!

Love Sophie...xxx

P.S: Don't forget you can find me on Bloglovin too! 

5 Things You Didn't Reallised Before Having Children

I often think to myself why didn't someone tell me about these things before I had children?  So I'm just going to get right down to the nitty gritty, here goes:

1. You are no longer able to jump on a trampoline or blow up a balloon.  The mere suggestion leaves you with sweaty palms.  Unless you were very, very good at carrying out your pelvic floor exercises whilst pregnant you will know that you are not as strong downstairs as you used to be (if you know what I mean).

2. You don't only have to worry about your own bottom's cleanliness but of another human's too!  As a first timer I remember actually asking a friend how I should go about making sure my potty trained child's bum was cleaned satisfactorily!  The answer I got was "tell your child to touch their toes"!  This works by the way! 

3. It takes forever to get in & out of the car!  In fact it can take so long some days that you may as well walk! Getting your children to just sit in the actual car seat poses your 1st challenge whether they be babies or bigger kids,  followed by your 2nd challenge,  getting the seat belt fastened.   On the occasion when I am getting into the car alone I actually cherish the speed in which I can do so...ahh bliss!

4. You can never be ill again. As a mum it doesn't seem to matter how bad you feel you have to carry on with your everyday routine when really all you want to do is curl up into a ball with the lights off!  You will still be required to entertain, clean feed and wash (and that's just your Husband)! Seriously there is never a day off when you are a parent.

5. You get wet (a lot)! I have never been caught in the rain as much as I have since my daughter started school! It appears that at the exact same time every day between 8.30am and 9.00am and between 2.45pm and 3.15pm (the school run) the heavens open and us parents get soaked.  Be prepared for this, as when your children are still babies the wettest you'll get is travelling between the front door and the car.  You do not realise that when standing around waiting for the school bell that the rain will come and you will end up looking like a drowned rat.  Also be prepared for the rain to stop the minute you are safe and dry!

I hope this has thrown up a few insightful ideas of what to expect now that you have children - be warned! Ha!

Love Sophie...xxx

Are You Looking To Earn Some Extra Cash In 2014?

If the answer is yes why not join the Body Shop team and become a home consultant? After speaking to my local rep Trudy Mcknight Email her here and she will be happy to answer any questions or if you prefer click here to go straight to The Body Shop web page.  To get you started Trudy has provided me with the following information:

THE JOB

• Book your first parties with your friends, relatives, colleagues, etc
• Provide your hosts with invitations, catalogues, etc
• The Party -

          Brief introduction and game

          Demonstration of products

          Everyone joins in

          Guest place orders, pay on the evening

          You book more parties

• Collate the customer orders and place order at Head Office (via web) 
• Products delivered to your host, all packed in lovely bags, within 5 working days
•  Minimum of one party a week

TRAINING AND SUPPORT 

• Flexible training
• Simple, easy-to-use ‘all you need to know to get started’ three step self-teach capsule, which can be   read on-screen or downloaded
• Optional hands on launch party or party observation, plus paperwork training
• On going monthly meetings to swop tips and hints, training on new products, lots of prizes, fun and  encouragement
• Optional Advanced Product Training
• Facebook trainings
• An area manager to mentor and support you through your career

THE KIT 

• Join with a Pamper Kit for just £45
• Best selling, fun, sensorial products in a Bag for Life
• Easiest range to learn and demo
• Gain confidence on selection of products
• Option to then purchase another kit...
• Great opportunity to offer hosts another party theme
• Three main kits available in total, plus seasonal kit

THE REWARDS 

• 25% commission on all sales (including products you buy for your self!)

Average party = £230

1 x party @ £230

x 25% = £57.50 earnings

(minus expenses)

… Approximately 3 hours work!

• Sales Bonus of up to 5% in a month
• Recruiting bonus if you recommend people who join our team
• Excellent career opportunities

With plenty of incentives and flexible working times why not find out about any opportunities in your area?

1st Day Of School HaHa!

This is me today (except I'm wearing a winter coat and welly boots)! Thank goodness the girls have gone back to school after the Christmas break.  This may sound mean, and although we had some good times and made some great memories I just can't help being happy that my kids have gone back to school!  

The weather has been absolutely atrocious here in Dorset over the Christmas period and has led to Cabin Fever taking hold in the Prescott residence.  We have tried to get out when we can but when it is cold and pouring down with rain it doesn't leave you with many options does it!?

Well I can honestly say I breathed a sigh of relief when I sent my oldest off to school today, normality has resumed and the routine has begun.  Is it just me or do your children behave better when they have some focus i.e. school and after-school activities?  Of course the routine comes with the daily grind of lunch boxes, taxiing around and work but all in all I like to know where I am, and although it is nice to have the occassional rest, getting back to routine feels good!

Love Sophie..xxx

Parenting Epic Fail!

Oh My God! We forgot the Tooth Fairy!!!

My six year old daughter's 2nd tooth fell out on Sunday and she was very excited about receiving a visit from her Tooth Fairy Violet. Me and my hubby had the coin ready and then the worse thing happened....we went to bed and completely forgot about it!  

The next thing I knew, I was being woken up at 6.45am by my daughter telling me (in floods of tears) that the tooth fairy hadn't come! Oh Sh*t what an epic fail! 

Of course I consoled her in my half asleep state and came up with all the reasons why she hadn't come, including maybe she got lost, maybe she was too busy, maybe you weren't fully asleep, maybe your head was on top of your tooth and she couldn't reach it..... Basically anything I could think of!

I am telling you now that I have never felt so guilty!

It is Tuesday now and I am happy to say that all has been rectified in Tooth Fairy world.  Brooke went to bed with her tooth under her pillow (again) and this time we didn't forget.  Violet the Tooth Fairy also left a note explaining why she was so late! Of course she was very busy and the door got stuck!  Brooke was very happy with this explanation and I am happy that she hasn't given up on the Tooth Fairy. What a relief!

Love Sophie..x

The Last Instalment For NaBloPoMo!

It's the 30th November and today is the last post for NaBloPoMo! I hope you have enjoyed hearing from me everyday!?  If not don't worry the torture has come to an end! Thanks to Vonnie at Nowt Special for hosting NabloPoMo 2013 for us and to answer her Day 30 prompt - The hardest part about blogging everyday for me is trying to come up with something interesting to say!

For this last post I thought I'd link to some of my favourite November 13 posts:

1. Turning 30!
2. Buns In My Oven
3. Job Description Of A Mum
4. The Book Of Bedtime Stories
5. Ode To Mummy
6. Pizza Rolls
7. Meet The Kittens
8. Give A Three Year Old A Camera...
9. This Week I'm Loving...
10. A Blast From The Past

I hope you enjoy reading these...if you would like to hear more from me please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Bloglovin!

Now let's wave goodbye to November and welcome in December!

A Blast From The Past

It’s amazing how things said to you in the past can come back and haunt you years later isn't it?!  For me these things are usually of a negative vane and I guess remind me of who I am and who I am trying to be! 

For instance, I was planning what to wear for a night out the other day and thought ‘I know, I could wear my black jeans turned up with a pair of courts’ then the flashback occurred and I remembered a comment someone had made to me about ten years previously.  Let me take you back...

...There I was on a works Christmas night out and I was wearing blue jeans turned up with a pair of heeled sandals.  One of the girls there said to me, “Oh look at you, you look like you're on your holidays!”  I think the remark was aimed at humiliating me in front of everyone to be perfectly honest (maybe it made her feel better about herself?) but at the time I took little offence and brushed it off.  

Now, years later, I am questioning my outfit choice based on one flippant comment! 

I have decided that I am going to look at it as personality building along with all the other things which occasionally pop into my mind…does this ever happen to you?  Or is it just me being a bit..well um..weird! 

Let me know and please leave a comment I’d love to hear from you!

Love Sophie..x

NaBloPoMo #27!

I Heart LFA's

From one email from ASOS to two pairs of LFA boots! Oops!  I must admit I have had a soft spot for LFA's for years and have owned two previous pairs.  Unfortunately both these pairs have been worn to death and I have been looking out for some more at a good price.  

Bearing in mind these boots have a RRP of £150-£250 I was over the moon to find ASOS hosting a flash sale last weekend and found they were reduced to £90-£100 each.  After buying the first pair I was incredibly naughty and indulged in a second pair...well at such a great price how could I resist?  These boots are totally on a par with Ugg boots in my opinion, they are made to a great standard and feel really luxurious on. Although they come at a high price they will last you for years so treat them like an investment! Perfect for cold winter days they really make you feel cosy and warm.

Here are some photos of my legs (and my boots)!

Adult Pizza Express Party

As a surprise for my mums Birthday I planned an Adult Pizza Making Party at Pizza Express and we had a fab time doing so!  You may think this was a slightly odd idea for my mother but after attending my daughter's 6th birthday in July she raved about how much she would enjoy having the same party for herself.  Then low and behold an email hit my inbox a few weeks later telling me about the all new pizza making parties for adults!  Woohoo I thought as I promptly booked our local branch. 

After getting a group of party goers together we arrived at Pizza Express not knowing what to expect.  On arrival we were handed a glass of bubbly and the table was adorned with entrées.  After we got settled the store manager came over and introduced himself and then we were off.  Practising with the dough by stretching and throwing it and taking part in a dough tossing competition between ourselves.  We then made our own pizzas and gave them our own original names, only to be judged again for our pizza making skills.  The food was lovely (of course) and we all had a great time! 

The party ended with a surprise pudding holding the obligatory one candle and the lucky members of our party to have won the mini competitions were handed their very own certificates including, Best Pizza Maker, Don't Give Up Your Day Job and Best Dough Tosser!  We all agreed that we had a fab time and were pleased to be involved in a new, interesting and original birthday celebration! Thank you Pizza Express!

Ode to Mummy (Me)!

Isn't this lovely?! I was tidying up the lounge the other day when I found this drawing among a pile of paper work.  At closer inspection I realised it is a drawing by my eldest daughter Brooke (aged six) where she has written down all the things I do for her and her sister!  I must admit after I deciphered what she had written it pulled at my heart strings hence the photo I took and this post! 

If you are also finding it hard to read (I don't blame you) let me decipher it for you now:

Brushing our herre (hair).
Taking us out to fun playses (places) with are (our) frends (friends).
Takeing (taking) us on rides at theme parks.
I like playing skiping (skipping) - I don't think this one is relevant to me! Lol!
Helping us all.
Ceeping (keeping) safe.
Doing chors (chores).
Helping me not to be late whenever I need to go enewer (anywhere).

Ahh bless her, the six year old teenager can be so lovely when she wants to be (cue tear to my eye)!  

Please feel free to comment - Take care everyone!

Remember I am taking part in NaBloPoMo and this is #13! For more Blogs please visit Vonnie at http://nowtspecial.wordpress.com.  You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter just click on the Links to the right! 

My Hairstyle - Messy Bun With Flower

Its NaBloPoMo # 11 today and I have been posting a lot of my girls hairstyles on my blog recently so I thought I'd change it up a bit and put one of my hairstyles on here for you. Basically I have been wearing my hair in a messy bun a lot lately as I am trying to stay away from over styling it and in this photo I have added a flower.  If you are 'hair-challenged' like me you will find this is really easy and should only take 5 mins to put up!

1) Pull your hair back into a high ponytail and tie with hair tie but instead of pulling your hair all the way through on last twist leave it tucked in.

2) Pin the hair against your head using bobby pins giving the effect of a loose/messy bun.

3) Add flower or clip of your choice for a bit of interest! :)

Job Description Of A Mum

Its NaBloPoMo #8 time and I am really trying my best to remain positive today but it has been trying I must admit.  I have been really busy this morning, I literally haven't stopped.  I've done the housework, worked out, been to the doctors done the school run and popped into the shops, I have also just picked up Sasha from nursery and have finally got home.  So imagine this...I finally manage to get myself some food when I hear the dreaded words; "Mummy I've spilt my drink"! An entire cup of orange juice is now sinking through my favourite rug and I have to stop any idea of lunch while I clean up.  Whilst cleaning up I am actually carrying around my lunch back and forward from the lounge to the kitchen in order to stop the kittens descending on it like vultures (ridiculous sight I know)! Once I have finished cleaning the spillage I reach for my plate and go to sit down but stop and sniff the air only to find the kittens have used their litter tray - Nice!.  Lunch? Hold that thought! 

My tale of woe goes on but I will spare you the boredom - I know you've all been there too! However after sitting in yet another traffic jam later this afternoon I work out that I have been driving back and forth for 2 hours! I feel like a taxi driver, only I don't get paid!  

This leads me to ponder how much would you charge to be a mum if you could? How much would we be worth if we could get paid for all our services? A mum's responsibility is huge and the amount of tasks we accomplish day to day are insane! 

Here's my job description - not my actual paid job, but the other job (the one I do for love):

Cook - Shop and plan ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner oh and snacks in between making sure healthiness and goodness are monitored (if time permits)!

Cleaner - Bathrooms, beds, hoovering, dusting, dish washing, ironing, general tidying and picking up the same toys over and over again!

Hairdresser - PE, swimming and ballet hair styles all covered, other styles available upon request!

Personal Stylist - Buy clothes, pick and lay out ready for the next day on a nightly basis, helping children get dressed in the morning in order to stop pants being put on back to front and trousers/skirts worn on heads etc.

Personal shopper - Clothes, food anything that is asked for and required - I'm on hand to provide it!

Taxi Driver - Coordinating school runs, after school clubs and play-dates   Sit in car for crazy amounts of time whilst safely battling way through traffic to get everyone where they need to be on time or at least within 5 mins after due time. 

Nurse - Patience and sympathy given with well stocked first aid kit and soothing words of 'it will be all right'.

Maid - Run baths, make beds find lost items - also see 'cleaner' above.

Receptionist/PA - Make appointments and arrange all extra-curricular activities at convenient times to all involved.

Mind Reader - Know exactly how each person is feeling at any particular time of day and respond as needed.

Teacher - Answer any given question with proper knowledge (ahem) and help with homework.

Counsellor - Be a shoulder to cry on with helpful words of wisdom whenever needed even when you haven't sat down for five hours and all you need is 5 mins of 'me time'.

Friend - Play with the children including board games and make believe role play, sing songs, dress up and lose all inhibitions for as long as you can bare!

Body Guard - Be ready at all times and watch children like a hawk saying words like, pick your feet up, don't trip, stop at the road, be careful, watch that, slow down, don't run...the list goes on!

I'm sure there are many, many more services required of us!  Please fell free to comment below - I'd love to hear what you have to say! :) x

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