Slimming World Mean Plan Monday

After a nine day detox plus being unwell I am so

glad to be back on my Slimming World Meal Plan!!

Monday: Steak, Salad and Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Burgers, Salad and SW Chips

Wednesday: Slimming World Spaghetti Bolognese

Thursday: My Favourite Fakeaway Taco Fries

Friday: We are going to eat out after our day in Dublin City Centre

going to try stay on Plan

Saturday: My Slimming World Christmas Party!

Sunday: No hangover takeout! Roast Chicken, Carrots, Peas and Oxo Roasties!

Over The Weekend #11

This weekend was the start of the busy ones!

We have something on every weekend from now to Christmas!

Friday Paul and I settled down to watch the Irish Tradition that is

The Late Late Toy Show every person in Ireland remembers watching it as a child

Oisín is still too young to stay up for it but we did Sky plus it and

he enjoyed watching it Saturday morning

I woke Saturday not feeling well again not as bad 

but it felt like my sinus where blocked and my ear was hurting too

I done my best to get over it and put our Christmas decorations up

We waited till Oisín had gone to bed to put the

tree up it takes awhile so I like to take my time over it

His face Sunday morning was priceless

he kept saying Wow over and over again!!

My parents and I then went to Console's annual concert

for families effected by suicide it was my Dad's first time at it

It was another beautiful concert and I came home 

with a lighter heart

Forever Aloe Vera Clean 9 Detox

I decided to give my body a another detox before Christmas as
December is a very busy month for me, with party nights out, meals out and many glasses of bubbly!

Last time I done this I forgot to blog about it so this time I thought I would do a little review of the product and how I got on. This is NOT a sponsored post I did not get paid or gifted the product it's just my own thoughts. Last time when I was thinking of doing this I searched the internet to see how other people got on, so maybe this might help some one else.
I started this on a Wednesday as I found it easy to do the first two days while I was in work
it took my mind off the hunger pains!
The two days before I cut down on tea and coffee and tried to get alot of water into me!
In the pack you get two bottles of aloe vera gel, fibre sachets, protein shake and food supplement tablets. For the first two days you drink alot of the aloe vera gel, have a shake at lunch time and take the fibre drink and tablets. After day two you cut down on the aloe vera gel and double the shakes and can have 600 calories a day.

Wednesday Day 1:
I found today okay in general but had to drink extra water in the
mid morning as I felt a headache coming on! The rest of the day was fine
kept eating my free foods!

Thursday Day 2:
Today is the hardest day for me, it was last time and was this time too.
Last time I didn't have to deal with the Christmas food TV ads!
I drank lots of water and ate free foods
and was praying for lunch time so I could have a shake!
But I did hit a wall in the afternoon and need a little nap!

Friday Day 3:
I have never been so happy to have scrambled eggs and wholemeal toast!
I split my 600 calories as I needed something to eat in the morning before work
Today wasn't too bad once I had my breakfast and shake for lunch
and had my other 300 calories with a spring onion and tomato omelette

Saturday Day 4:
Oisín had a sore throat and cough the past few days this morning I woke up
with tickley throat so I wasn't feeling hungry at all
So I had a shake for breakfast and kept my 600 calories for chicken stir fry
and wholegrain rice for dinner

Sunday Day 5:
I woke up with cold this morning and headache caught Oisín's cold!
Had two pints of water and my food supplement tablets
Didn't have my shake till lunch time when I felt a little better
Dinner was roast chicken breast with baked potato

Monday Day 6:
Cold and cough took over today but I am staying as
close to the c9 detox as I can had my shake for breakfast
Have been drinking warm water with honey and lemon for my throat
Stuck in bed all day feeling awful drinking lots of water
Had chicken with rice for dinner haven't much of an appiete

Tuesday Day 7:
Cough was bad today sent home from work sick
So I had to buy a cough bottle not sure if your made to take it with the c9
but need to make myself better so that comes first
Had a shake for breakfast and lunch didn't have much for an appeitte
so dinner was a baked poato and cheese

Wednesday Day 8:
Felt a bit better today but stayed of work today to rest
Felt little hungry this morning so had a boiled egg on toast
Shake for lunch and tomato and cheese omettle for dinner
I have to be honest and say I am glad today is day 8
being sick and doing a detox doesn't mix!

Thursday Day 9:
Finally felt a lot better today
Just a little cough now
Last day on C9 and tbh I am pleased it's over I wasn't as good on it this time
Had shake for breakfast and lunch
Then had over baked chicken with sweet potato chips

In total I lost 7lbs on the C9 detox which I am really happy about
I lost in total 11inchs all over my body, my skin and hair looks and feels better
It was a pity I came down with a cough and cold half way through it
I stuck to it as best I could but because I was feeling awful I didn't enjoy it as much
and don't think I was eating as much.
To be honest I don't think I would do the C9 again in the winter especially so close to Christmas
as the Christmas food ads just wanted me to eat very thing!
I found it hard this time around as the weather was awful and I found myself cold easier
Unlike the Summer time salads and fruit where not appealing I just wanted hot soup and comfort food!
Overall I am happy with the results and I do think I bounced back quicker after being ill
because of the detox
If you are thinking of doing it, I would recommend having something afterwards
to help keep the weight off like, Slimming World or Weight Watchers.
As it is very easy to put the weight straight back on, it is a detox and my body does feel better more refreshed just what I need as we head into the busy month of December.

My Sick Duvet Day Essentials

I have been unwell since Sunday with an awful cough and cold

I took Wednesday off work to try get over it 

Thankfully I feel so much better for it

Here are my sick/duvet day essentials

Hot Tea and Honey: Because my throat was so sore from coughing I was sipping hot tea with honey and it really helped!

Large blanket & Sky Plus: While sipping on my tea I was under my favourite blanket while catching up on all favourite TV shows on Sky Plus!

Water, Vicks, Cough Bottle: While I was sick I was on my C9 detox I really didn't want to break my detox so to try get better quick. I was drinking lots of water, with vicks rubbed on my forehead to try help me breath with the added help of a cough bottle

Good Book & Hot Water Bottle: When I was done with my TV shows I read my festive book with a hot water bottle. I love losing myself in a book especially when I am sick and the hot water bottle made me feel extra toasty!

Laptop & Blog: Of course reading my favourite blogs help too, and then finally sleep can work wonders when you are sick!

These are the things that help me get through a sick day what's yours?

On The Box This Week

Warning-TV Spoilers Ahead!

I love Adele while I seem to enjoy different tastes in music
Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Sarah Brightman, Stevie Nicks, and Sam Smith to name a few
Adele is one of my favourites back in 2011 before Adele was a huge as she is now we has one of her songs as one of our Wedding songs
So when I knew there would be a one off special with Graham Norton I knew I had to watch
I loved this, listening to her amazing voice and doesn't she look fab the three year rest seems have agreed with her! It's hard to believe that Adele is still only 27 years old she can write songs that everyone can relate too.
What I really like about her is she is willing to laugh at herself too the sketch where she impersonates herself is very funny and her fans reaction is classic

We tuned into Nigella again this week to see
what tasty recipes she had this week
This week it was fish tacos, chocolate tart and chai muffins
We also learnt that Nigella doesn't like to get her hands dirty
and wears gloves for the sticky messy recipes
Now there seems to be some kind of up roar that maybe
this isn't the cleanest of things to do!
I have to be honest I have been doing this for years!
Doesn't seem to have done us any harm
as for Nigella's chia muffins might have to try giving them a go!

Glen is alive and I was wrong we found out before the mid season finale!
We found out what happened to Glen right at the start of the episode
(I try keep away from spoilers for TWD but I called it and said to the hubby way back when we thought the Glen was dead that I thought there was more to it. Hubby point blank said no Glen was dead. I love being right!)
Glen hid under the dumpster and it was Nicholas that was getting tore apart while on top of Glen. Glen then finds Enid who left Alexandria while the Wolves where attacking. She is kind of annoying character but don't they all start out like that in TWD?! Glen makes her come home with him even though she doesn't want to she even pulls a gun on him! In the end she sort of agrees to go with him
Back in Alexandria the dead are surrounding the walls. Morgan is still keeping a Wolf locked up in a house, Carol is getting more and more suspicious of him.
Rick teaches Jessie's son Ron how to use a gun, think this will come back to bite Rick and Carl on the arse. As I think Ron is not over Rick killing his Dad and Carl stealing his girlfriend! Just as Maggie sees a sign that Glen is alive (he released some green balloons) an old burn church collapses with the weight of walkers pushing against it, bringing the walls of Alexandria down
I enjoyed this episode and overall the first half of season six of The Walking Dead
wish we could of seen a little more of Daryl, Carol, Michonne and some of the new characters.
Looking forward to seeing the mid season finale next week think some serious stuff is going to go down!

This Month I Have Been Mostly Reading - November

This month I tried to fit as many books as I could in before the madness of December starts and I know I will not get the time to read much! I have been finding reading really helping me to relax this month as it has been a little stressful! So here is what I go lost in this month!

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander series book 2) - Diana Gabaldon
I finally started this book the end of October but with over 900 pages I knew I would be reading it for a while!
I don't want to give an spoilers here but this is the second book in the Outlander series which has been turned into a TV show now. It was the show that made me wanted to read the books unlike many book adaptations the first season of the show was very faithful to the books and after reading this second book I am hoping it stays that way.
What a book! What author has the balls to put a major spoiler at the very first few pages of a book Gabaldon does! I had to check I was reading the right book after the first couple of pages!
It is set into six books without giving away any spoilers it tells us of what happened to time travelling Claire and her new Scottish husband Jamie Frasier when they have to leave Scotland for France to help Bonnie Prince Charlies. Claire tells Jamie there will be war in a couple of years that will kill many Scottish lives for nothing and end the highland clansmen way of life. So off to France they go on a quest to risk their lives to save Scotland.
It did take me a little while to get back into the era of Claire and Jamie and some of the first chapters where a little boring but it really did pick up after the 200 page mark.  The books are long but if you like a sweeping epic love story that lasts the test of time with some heart breaking time travelling and huge cliff hangers thrown in you will like these books. It has got me so excited for season two of Outlander in the Spring. I will read book three but not sure if I will do before or after the next season of Outlander.

The New Countess - Fay Weldon
This is the third book in the trilogy that I was read last month
You can see my review for the first two books here....
I enjoyed the first book but I think the writing went down hill after that and this book
was my least favourite. It is quite easy to read the chapters are short, so I got through it in two days, but the story left alot to be desired!
This book is set five years since Long Live The King...Adela is married and gone to live with her husband (so not in this book) Minne is blissfully married, so is Rosina but both don't stay that way for long. The family are still in good company with the King and his Mistress who have invited themselves on a shooting weekend with the family.
I found Rosina's storyline dragged and boring, the same with Minne who adored her children I didn't see her getting restless and running off and leaving them
All of the characters including the downstairs staff are not likable and I found myself not caring what happened to any of them! It's a trilogy that I will not be reading again in a hurry!

The Magic of Christmas - Trisha Ashley
I started my Christmas reading early this year and got excited to see this book in my local library
I have read some of Trisha Ashley before and was happy to see another festive offering from her
So I was really disappointed when I started to struggle with this book after a couple of chapters
I felt the name and cover of this book is misleading the book isn't set at Christmas with only the last couple of chapters set at Christmas
The story is about Lizzy who is a writer and to the rest of the village is living the ideal life
But she isn't herself and her husband are living like strangers with the love long gone from there marriage
When an accident happens and Lizzy finds herself widowed it turns out her husband was having several affairs. Lizzy is shocked but goes on with her life with her son Jasper.
To be honest I found myself losing interest with this book half way through it and made myself finish it. I never really liked any of the characters and some of the Christmas Pudding Club characters where very boring!
I did enjoy the last couple of chapters of this book when it was actually set at Christmas
but overall I would read a different Trisha Ashley book to get into the Christmas spirit and give this one a miss!

It Started With A Kiss - Miranda Dickinson

This was my first time reading a book from this author but it will not be my last!

I was hoping this would be a better story than my last festive read and it really was.

 I wasn't sure when I read the blurb on the back of the book if I would like it, but the story in well written and quick to get into, chapters are short and easy to read.

I would say this a sweet easy to read festive chit lit book. 

We follow Romily over the course of a year when at a Christmas market she literally bumps into the man of her dreams, for a few fleeting seconds they kiss but then he is gone. Over the next year Romily makes it her quest to find him again, with the help of her Wedding Band mates, Aunt and Uncle and blog she is set to find her Phantom Kisser again! But maybe for her love is a little closer to home? 

There is a really great twist at the end which I have to say I didn't see coming and really enjoyed. The Christmas chapters are so festive I could almost see the snow and taste the mulled wine! I loved how all the chapters where named after well known songs. I read this book in a couple of days and afterwards wanted to put our Christmas tree up! If you like easy festive reading with a feel good ending you will enjoy this book.

What Oisín has been reading this Month!

One Little Baby - Richard Dungworth & Jane Massey

Oisín has been picking this one for bedtime alot this month
It's just a cute short story about a little baby and his busy day
It's very cute and Oisín likes to say night night sleepy head at the end!

So that's what we have been writing how about you?

Slimming World Christmas Meals Planning



My calendar is filling up for December, I love this time of the year, but I always have allot on as December is also my birthday month. I have worked so hard since the Summer to lose weight and eat well. I don't want to blow all that hard work but I also want to enjoy myself so I will be using flexi syns for allot of the meals out but will be extra good on days leading up to days and nights out.

I have something planned for every week in December, sometimes a number of things on the same week so it will take some good food planning in between to keep the weight off!

* Monday 30th November - Rathwood Santa Train with Oisín

This is a children's event that we are bringing Oisín to 

a Santa Train around the Rathwood Grounds

Then to see Santa and real reindeer then off to make your very own elf

We will be having lunch and hot chocolate here

but I have decided to save on the syns and bring my own lunch!

But I will enjoy a nice hot chocolate but syn it!

* Friday 4th December - Family Christmas Day Out

This is one of our family traditions a day out into Dublin City Centre

To bring Oisín to see Santa Clause (again) go to the Christmas Markets

Finish our Christmas shopping, see the Christmas lights

and finish off with dinner

For dinner I will be using my flexi syns and will be having a glass of wine with dinner

I plan to be extra good for the week leading up to this so might be saving syns during the

week to keep for this day

* Saturday 5th December - Slimming World Christmas Party 

I will be having dinner and drinks at this, again I will be using flexi syns

I expect a little gain after this week after having a few events this week

but I will be remembering my tipping point and plan to not have dessert

* Saturday 12th December - Girls Birthday/Christmas Meal

My friends and I always met up before Christmas to swap presents

and enjoy a girls night out. We will be going to a beautiful Thai restaurant

I have already ate here before so I know what the menu is like

I will choose an on plan starter and main, then skip desert to instead

enjoy a few glasses of bubbly my drink of choice

Again I plan to be very good the week before this meal 

and use flexi syns

* Saturday 19th December - Christmas At The Dogs Work Night Out

For something different this year my Christmas work do is a dogs race night

I am really looking forward to this and have decided to relax and enjoy the night

I will be having on plan starter and main, but will enjoy dessert and drinks

*Monday 21st December - My Birthday Meal Out

As a tradition hubby and I always go out for meal for on Christmas week

for my birthday which is on Christmas Eve.

 I am really looking forward to this we are going to Jamie Oliver's

I will skip a starter, have flexi syns for my main enjoy dessert and a glass of wine

I have to be honest  Christmas Day I will not be counting syns

I am going to eat, drink, relax and enjoy Christmas day

and be back on plan the 26th!

Over The Weekend #10

I would love to say this weekend was a lovely one
and we done lovely things to celebrate the run up to Christmas
but we didn't it seems this weekend in November is the time we
get sick, last year it was the same weekend different illness a winter bug
this year Oisín came down with a horrible cough and cold
the cough is so bad it has been making him vomit poor thing
I am in the middle of my second c9 detox
 but by Saturday I could feel the tingle in my throat and my nose was blocked!
So far Paul hasn't got it and he has been a diamond looking after his two patients!

I haven't broke from the C9 still doing

it and on day six today but finding it

hard as I have no appetite and

just want to sleep!

Spent alot of time in bed reading
festive books to cheer myself up!

Oisín and I wrapped ourselves up in blankets
had jammie days and watched lots of Disney

We have alot on next weekend so are hoping
to all better for then, so lots of snuggles
are happening today!

Our Top Five Christmas Ads 2015

One of our favourite things about Christmas
is of course the Christmas ads!

This year has been even nicer as Oisín has started to notice
the different ads.

Here are our top five for this year:

5: Aldi

Favourite Things
 This take on the Sound of Music classic is really festive
Oisín loves this ad every time it comes on he gets really excited
sings along and claps at the end!
I like it because we mostly shop at Aldi and I liked seeing
our favourites done up for Christmas!

4: Lidl

School of Christmas
I really enjoyed this School of Christmas idea
With classes in how to make the best leftover sandwich, how to appear
grateful for an unwanted gift and a masterclass in wrapping!
I found this ad very funny and clever

3:Sky Movies

Brussel Sprout
Hubby say this is not as good as last years
but Oisín and I really like it
After a little girl has been told to eat the rest of
her Christmas brussel sprouts she finds a different
way of getting rid of them as she is transported into
her favourite movies which just happen to playing on
Sky over the Christmas!

2:John Lewis

Man on the Moon

For me last years John Lewis ad has a special place
in my heart as the song reminded me of my love for
my little boy
This year's ad is another beautiful piece which people
are mixed about it, but I think it highlighted loneliness
at Christmas beautifully
It tell the story of the man on the moon how a little
girl sees him and sends him a gift for Christmas

1:Sainsbury's

Mog The Cat
We don't have Sainsbury's here in Ireland
so I can't buy a Mog for Oisín
But this is our favourite ad this Christmas
The three of us love it and Oisín thinks its so funny
and keeps saying Mog Meow when the ad comes on
the telly!
It tells of calamity prone Mog
who after a number of accidents sets her family's home on fire!
The neighbours all help and remind us Christmas is a time for sharing!

Noticeable Mentions:
We also like a few other ads but didn't make our top five
They are:

Mars Celebrations: Christmas Tree
Oisín really likes this one too think it reminds him of his favourite Pixar movies!
The Christmas tree decorations can't resist the yummy sweets and try there very
best to get one!

Spanish Christmas Lottery
Paul and I watched this online after it with viral
The animation reminded me of the movie UP so did the tears
There is no talking in the ad so you don't have to know Spanish
It's a beautiful story if you haven't watched it please do
Tells us of a lonely security guard who misses out when
his job win the lotto but his work friends have other ideas!

Waitrose Make It Christmas
I really like this ad we don't have Waitrose here in Ireland
doesn't mean I can't get excited over the ad!

Classic Christmas Ads:
Here are a few of our favourite classic Christmas Ads the ones that are shown
over and over every Christmas

Guinness Dreaming Of A White One

I have to admit this might be my favourite Christmas ad ever
Our country might not be equipped for a white Christmas
but we all hope it will stick at Christmas
so we will get a white one at Christmas
For me I know it's Christmas when I see this ad

Dennys At Home For Christmas

This is such a cute Christmas ad
show a little family of three at Christmas
From the moment the little girl comes into her living room
to see what Santa has left her...the magic of Christmas through
her eyes..."he's a very good Santy"

Coca Cola Holidays are Coming

Of course the classic holidays are coming jingle ad
This is the Hubby's favourite when he see it he knows
Christmas is on it's way!

So that's our favourites for this year and our classics what's yours?