Sewing Club: Make-up Roll

It's almost the new year and we're going to start a bit of a longer project...

Boxing Day Drivers

So, that's it, Christmas is over. Not quite! As you read this I am in the car on my way from somewhere in deepest darkest Lincolnshire to Blackpool to pick up my lovely step-daughter for Christmas number two!

Obviously with all the fun I'm having I don't really have time to post a craft Monday tutorial but I promise they'll be back next week, and it's a corker!

Heads up - you'll need tester pots of paint in two colours, a piece of furniture and a potato.
x

Christmas Day: The most important people in the world.

Christmas is all about family and friends for me so today I wanted to share with you some of the most important people in my life...

My husband is my rock. There aren't words to describe how much he means to me. 2011 was our first full year together and it has been fantastic. He's just lovely.

My little angel Ashleigh and her big sister Megan are two of the sweetest girls in the world. Ashleigh is definitely going to be a comedienne when she grows up, Megan will probably be a vet.

Most people who know me would tell you I'm a bit of a Daddy's girl. I love my Dad, he's clever, funny and always there for me when I need him. And his 'Mrs', Maigret, is just a legend. She's always thinking of other people, she's kind and generous, and makes a mean Rocky Road!

My sister and her kids Eartha, Bram and Violette. They're so French. We always have lots of fun when we're together but don't get to see each other much which is a real shame. Lucky for me I'm spending today with them though!

My brothers Richie and Luke are pretty odd guys, but so sweet and very similar. They drink too much, play weird instruments and have bizarre taste in clothes.

I don't know what we'd do without my in-laws (I'm going to HAVE to try and take a photo of them somewhere!). Sandra & Alan look after Ashleigh way more than most grandparents would want to, they were amazing when we moved house and (hearing what others say about in-laws) I'm very lucky to have them.

All my friends rock. This year Embo has made me laugh more than ever, Jess has got me into running and writing and I have missed Katy unimaginably so whilst she's been jetting off over the world.

And I haven't even seen these two beautiful blondes! But I do get to see Gemma and Gina VERY soon.

There are so many more people who mean the world to me, I'm sure you all know who you are. Love you all, and HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas!

Linky Saturday: NORAD

Of course, it had to be another Christmas related link... Follow the Big Man as he travels the word delivering presents! This is something I look at every year, I'm such a kid and just get so excited, and this year you can even follow him on your Android or iPhone! Ooooh... not long to go now...

Public Transport is an Inspiration

Photo Credit

 I work 2.9 miles from home. According to Google Maps it should take about an hour to walk, 35 minutes on the bus and 10 minutes to drive. Last night was my first experience getting the bus home and all I can say is wow. What a waste of time (and £2.20).

I had a few bits of shopping to do first but was still at the bus stop 10 minutes before the bus was due at 6.38pm. I walked in the door just before 8.00pm. Ridiculous. I could have walked it quicker.

So, there's the inspiration, the kick up the bum I needed. There's no way I can face getting public transport home when the distance is so small. Here's to running home in 2012!

Tasty Friday: Hot Toddy Porridge

It's really cold isn't it?! Warm yourself up with my hot toddy porridge!

Chistmas Eve Eve!!

Because it's Christmas Eve Eve I though I'd just share the treat with you today. Enjoy!

Who am I today?

Thursday sewing club was going to be how to make a last minute fancy dress costume (where do I get my inspiration from?!) but this cape tutorial is so good and easy I though I might as well just do a link!

And here's your special treat...

Kids Activities

I wanted to do a regular weekly spot on things to do with the kids, but moving house means I've not had time to see my daughter much - she's been keeping out of the way at Nana & Grandad's! So today I want to share with you all a FANTASTIC source of activities to do with your little monsters. Go to Playful Learners and get some great ideas for fun times!

Christmas Fancy Dress

So... what have I come to work dressed as today then?!

If you think you know the answer, good for you! There was a hidden link somewhere on the blog to take you to a special treat, but now it's right here!

Review: Running (The Only Book You'll Ever Need)

As a lot of you know I recently started running - catch up with that over at Running Bunn. I started off with the C25K programme, but have really struggled with technique and injuries. Luckily for me David & Charles, the lovely publishers of Running (The Only Book You'll Ever Need), sent me a copy of the book to help me along.

Crafty Monday: Snowflake Stencils

No window is complete at Christmas without a bit of fake snow. It shocked me recently to discover that not everyone knows how to make a snowflake stencil, so here I show you how.

My Week In Pictures

This weeks has been mostly about moving house! The fish tank had to be emptied and the poor guys spent the whole week in a plastic box in the bathroom. We got all the curtains down and boxed everything up.

A bit of mid-week fun came in the form of my little angel's nativity play at school and the work's Christmas party at Pizza Express.

By the end of the week everything was packed at the old flat and we got the keys to our new home!

Linky Saturday: Portable North Pole

I know a lot of you have already had a go at this but, just in case anyone missed it, enter just a few details to get a personalised video message from the Big Man himself!

How safe is your life from 'Facebook'?

I still remember when I set up my Facebook account. I got an email from a friend of mine who lives abroad telling me I should join. I had a look around the site, was amused to see I could 'befriend' people from school to whom I hadn't spoken in years, and joined.

Tasty Friday: Mulled Wine

All you need on a cold winter's night is a big mug of steaming hot mulled wine.

Sewing Club: Stocking Decorations

If you get into any difficulty with a project you'll be able to ask me questions through the blog or on Twitter, and at the end of each project you'll have something beautiful and handmade!

Crafty Monday: Gift Bags

Why go out and buy gift bags when you can make your own?!

And the winner is...

Early yesterday morning I got my lovely daughter to help pick a winner for the Breakfast Set competition.

We wrote down all the entries for the competition...

My Week In Words

Linky Saturday: Retro Chick's Christmas Giveaway

I love reading Retro Chick's blog anyway, but she's currently running a 12 days of Christmas competition where you can win some properly lovely presents! Head over to her blog and enter every day for the best chance of winning.

Pillowcase Angel Costume

When the school sent home a note saying we had to produce an angel costume for my daughter to wear in the school play I was very upset. Not because I didn't want to do it, but because they said we weren't allowed to make wings! Anyway, here's how I made the dress.

Getting back into it

As I'm sure you can tell by my absence, my first run after the injured knee did not go too well. After the first running interval I felt like I'd been kicked by a donkey. Since then I've just not had the guts to go back out.

For years I have hated exercise. I'd always tell people it's dangerous, anyone with an injury most likely got it from some kind of sport related incident. Besides, I've never been much overweight so why should I bother. Sporty people annoyed me with their happiness and their dedication.

I felt so good after the first few weeks of C25K that I suddenly felt stupid for all those years derision. I was happier, needed less sleep to feel more awake, I was breathing better and, dare I say it, looked better too - my skin was brighter, my hair shinier. That was just from a few weeks, imagine what I'd be like at the end of 9 weeks?! When I hurt my knee it was like I was being chastised for giving up my old beliefs so freely.

When Bangs and a Bun posted today about the new 'Team Bangs...' I was so jealous that I can't be a part of it. If I'd never injured myself I'd be up to 5k now and doing the Berlin half marathon wouldn't be a million mile target. But as it is I can't even chase a pigeon let alone run 13 miles.

So I've decided, "that's quite enough moping Mrs Bunn"! Tomorrow I will find time (in between the school run, Christmas shopping, house move packing etc. etc.) to go out. I'm not going to pressure myself by trying to do a C25K run, I'm just going to do my best. If I can't run at all then so be it. I need to get back in the habit of putting on my running gear and leaving the house for half an hour. I can build up as slowly as my knee (and my injured courage) needs.

Watch this space...

Ssssshhhhhh... Competition time!

You'll have noticed me being fairly quiet recently. I'm moving house you see and that takes up a fair bit of time and effort!

Winter Running Fears

You'll be pleased to hear that my injury is almost completely healed. I'm still not comfortable running, and my knee feels achy after a day standing around in the shop but I'm almost there. I'm planning to go out on Sunday afternoon for a c25k week 3 run (90s run, 90s walk, 3m run, 3m walk) and if that goes well then I'll do a couple more week 3 runs before starting on c25k week 4, just to make sure I ease myself back in and don't do any further damage.

I know it's not that cold... yet!

The thing is, these past two weeks of no running have seen a bit of a weather change. We're definitely getting more to the winter end of autumn and I'm not sure I want to go outside in a t-shirt! In my head I know that after a couple of minutes I'll be sweating like a pig, but the longer I don't run, the scarier it seems.

There is also a safety issue for me. I finish work at 5.45 by which time it is really dark. My Karrimor running kit has a lot of fluorescent bits on it so I should be easily seen but, probably something to do with being brutally mugged as a teenager, I'm not so keen on being out in the dark for other reasons.

I've done a bit or research (isn't t'interweb great?!) and read a fantastic book (full review to come soon!) and have compiled a list of the most useful tips.

1. Always tell someone where you are going, the full route and what time you expect to return. This way if you don't return, they know where to start looking for you!
2. Make sure you have some identification with you and a number to call in case of emergency - I write my husband's number on my arm. This way if you're in an accident you won't be Jane/John Doe.
3. Make sure you have some money stashed about your person. If you're going on a long run take enough for a bus/taxi home in case you get injured, for short runs enough for an emergency phone-call should you need to make one. That's if you can find a phone box of course.
4. If you're going to be running in an unlit area take a small torch, a tiny keyring torch is perfect.
5. Don't have your music too loud. You need to be aware of your surroundings, traffic and other people to stay safe.

So, be safe running, wish me luck for Sunday. Any other tips please post a comment below.

Injury & Ice-Cream

I know it's been a bit quiet this past week but I'm STILL hobbling around on my injured knee. Hopefully it's just a sprain and will heal within a couple of weeks. Unfortunately walking to and from work, standing up all day in the shop and just generally living seems to be extending my recovery.

Plus I really feel like I need to run, I've got all this excess energy since starting running and now it has nowhere to go! That's bringing me down and I'm reaching for the Ben & Jerry's...

I'm very lucky that even with my (old) sedentary lifestyle I've never been more than a few pounds overweight. This gives me a huge head start in getting fit. But for those people who are overweight taking the first step can be painful, mentally and physically.

It really is a great article, give it a read!

C25k 3:2

I feel I should warn you all... I'm injured!

(not my knee)

Run two of week three went really well for the first mile and a half (even that hill wasn't so bad this time) but then disaster struck. My left knee began to ache. Not wanting to give in I carried on and managed a good six minute run at the end again, followed by an extra couple of minutes after that because Mr Bunn needed to go out and I was on kid duty.

It seems this extra running was a mistake. My run was on Friday, now it's Monday and I can barely walk. I've dosed up on paracetamol (I'm allergic to everything else) and strapped up the offending appendage. I feel no better and what's more, I'm desperate to go out running!

Everything's starting to hurt now as other parts of my leg are trying to compensate for my knee. Particularly my left ankle and my right knee. The worst thing is I don't even know what caused it. Well, obviously it's the sudden exercise after 10 years of being a sloth, but what I mean is there was no sudden jolt, no falling over. I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday but he'll probably just tell me to keep rested until it's better. 

Has anyone else had anything similar? Any advice?!

C25k 3:1

Week three really steps up the running. You do two repetitions of - 90s run, 90s walk, 3m run, 3m walk. Doesn't sound like much but three minutes? That's quite a lot!

I set off at 9.30 this morning in my new trainers and my new (matching) Karrimor jacket. It was raining, windy and cold. The first half, as always, was hard. I couldn't even finish the first of the three minute runs falling 15seconds short of the target. I recovered easily in the three minute walk though, and by the time I got to the second long run I felt like Batgirl.

I didn't stop. The podcast told me to slow down, told me how well I'd done and I thought "Yeah, I did really well. I'm going to run to that tree." I got to the tree and decided to run to the next road, then to the red car, then to the shop. Before I knew it the podcast was over, I was nearly home and I'd run a solid six minutes.

Today was a good run. A really good run. I hope every run is that good. Power to me!

C25k 2:3

The third run of week two was after work before a week off. Unfortunately this meant I had to have all my 'stuff' with me in a backpack.

Now, I'm not sure if you've ever jogged with a backpack before, but it is not easy. It kept jumping about which meant I had to hold the straps the whole way. This really affected my running and I felt like a daddy long-legs rather than the graceful leopard I normally resemble.

Despite the backpack issues and managing to faff up my iPod I managed to finish the 2.3 miles in 25 minutes and still felt pretty good afterward. Apart from the continuing footwear issues of course. Luckily I have managed to leave the house and buy a lovely shiny pair of New Balance running shoes today so all should be good for week three.

I can see things being difficult for week three. It's half term and we've got not just our regular 4 year old but also her 9 year old big sister with us. There's always more fun stuff to do than running! I want to make cakes and shoe-box guitars and go rollerskating! My plan is to run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday so we'll see how that goes.

I am quite nervous about week three as it involves stints of three minutes running and I just don't feel ready. I'll let you know what happens on Tuesday evening...

Targets

Obviously in doing c25k I aim to be able to run 5k. But I don't want that to be the end, I want to push further not just flop back onto the couch for Christmas.

I have decided to do the Norwich Parkrun on December 10th as my final c25k run. Go me! All being well my next target will be to run the Trowse 10k road race in April 2012, followed by the City of Norwich half marathon later in 2012 OR join in with Team Bangs on the Run.

Now I know this sounds a bit drastic. At the moment I can only run for about 2 minutes at a time. But without something to work towards I think I'd be less likely to persevere in the face of adversity. I know that, if I train and focus, I can do all of this. It is possible. I will make it happen.

Aga Classes

You might remember some time ago I spoke to you about my love of all things Aga. I was incredibly excited when the new Aga Total Control cooker was released but also acutely aware that my council flat existence was a far cry from ownership of said excellence.

Time for a Run

One of the excuses I always used for not exercising was that I didn't have enough time. Since I started running I have realised that actually, I can fit exercise into my life quite easily.

When you're planning your runs for the week you need to think about how much time you need to set aside in total. Sure there's the half hour run but there's 5 minutes getting ready, another 5 getting water and music, when you get back you need at least 10 minutes stretching and another 10 in the shower... I set aside an hour minimum.


Anyone who knows me will tell you that getting up an hour earlier in the morning just won't happen. I like sleeping. I like it more than anything, even more than Marmite. There's no point setting time aside in the morning if you know you just won't do it then. So, for me, runs have to be during the day or after work.

Other things get in the way though. Tonight is a run night but I've got to go to Ashleigh's school for her first disco. I won't get up early tomorrow and do it (see above) and it's my friend's birthday party after work. I have to fit it in though or I'll be off schedule and Mr Bunn will beat me. That is not acceptable. I am very competitive.

My final option? Take my running kit to work tomorrow and run the long way home. I was going to have a shower before going out so it should only add 20 minutes or so onto my getting ready time. Easy. Crisis averted, c25k remains on course.

If I can find time to do it, anyone can. If you think you can't then it's probably just that you don't want to. Lazy you.

Recipe: Spicy carrot & parsnip soup

A beautifully velvety soup to warm you through the winter.

C25k 2:2

Today, being my only day off during the week, was my turn to take Ashleigh to school. In my great wisdom I decided to wear my running kit to school then do a 2.4 mile route back home. Needless to say I was freezing. Walking at 4 year old pace wearing a t-shirt and capri pants in October is not a good idea. Ashleigh was good though and we skipped for quite a lot of it.

I really didn't enjoy the music on week 2's podcast so decided to go with my own music (Red Snapper again) and try out another Android app. This was a mistake. The app froze after a couple of minutes, then had to start from the beginning, and the notification to change from walking to jogging was just a slight lowering of the music. This meant I spent a good portion of the run checking my phone to see how much time I had left.

Added to this annoyance was that I had to wait at pretty much every road to cross. Where I normally run at 7pm with very little traffic it seems 9am is quite a lot busier.

Aside from these little problems I had quite a good run and did extra running and less walking to make up for all the time left standing at roads. I found my other trainer at last so wasn't in Converse, but my left shoe was rubbing against the back of my ankle, I'll have to watch that.

I think I'll go back to the podcasts and give up on the phone for good. Too bulky and unreliable. I'm really looking forward to my last run of week 2 which should be on Friday evening.

Review: Karrimor Running Kit

As you can see, I look pretty awesome in my Karrimor running kit. The outfit was available in the black/pink which I chose, but also comes in black/yellow and plain black if you're not such a girly girl.



The capri pants fit really well which I'm surprised about - these are a 10 and I'm usually a 12! They've got a handy little pocket at the back which zips up and is the perfect size for a key, so no more running with it in my shoe. They didn't fall down at all like my regular leggings did and kept me warm and dry throughout the run without overheating.

The quarter zip top is absolutely fantastic. It's a size 12 and fits really well without being too snug. I started off with it zipped up but quickly changed my mind as I settled into the run. I felt warm enough not to need a jacket which, if you ask anyone who knows me, is remarkable.

The outfit was really well priced too. At Sports Direct the kit is currently on sale. The top is currently £6 and the capri pants are £8. Now I've experienced the quality of Karrimor I think they're well worth their original full prices and I look forward to trying more from their range of running gear.

C25k 2:1

Tonight's run was pretty great! For week two you do 90 seconds of running followed by 120 seconds walking. After the first running interval I felt OK but was breathing pretty heavily.

Then came a bit of a breakthrough. Laura (the voice-over on the NHS podcasts) suggested breathing in for four strides and then out for four strides. At first I thought she was being ridiculous, no way could I breathe that slowly. I forced myself to control my breath through the runs and the walks.

It had the fabulous effect of slowing my breathing and quickening my pace. I felt fantastic through to the end of each running interval and was recovered half way through each two minute break! I needed a good run after last time. Can't wait until Wednesday now.