Friday 30 Second Dance Party

It's been a day of job and volunteer apps which can be pretty draining, boring and tiresome. It also makes me very hungry without actually being hungry which is a pain in the bum. I've been picking at food all afternoon and after dropping the dreaded Ebay parcel off, it was 3 o'clock.   Although not hungry, I needed something to satisfy so decided on making a delicious, green energising juice to go with my 30 Second Dance Party aiding a Friday afternoon slump and readying for the weekend.

For the juice I just threw what I could find in the fridge but it's actually turned out pretty well. I threw in an apple, celery stick, handful of spinach, a few mint leaves from the garden and a sprinkle of hemp seeds. Whizzed it together with some water and added some ice part way through for some coolness; then poured, added a straw and supped. Beautiful.

The Friday 30 Second Dance Party was led by Beyonce today and the tune that is Love on Top. I'm feeling so much more smiley already.

Who would lead your Friday 30 Second Dance Party today?

Have a deliciously decadent Friday.

Lizzie x

An epic Ebay fail

We've had a Kmix blender on Ebay for a couple of weeks now and this morning I woke to our first lot of correspondence for it, an email requesting a possible pick up. I was excited. This is the first thing I have put up for sale on Ebay (this is an important fact for what is to follow). Having not checked progress thus far and discovering the sale ended today, I decided it was probably a good time to look at what was going on. We had 143 views and 21 watches which I thought was pretty good, then I saw the price. Now, I will openly admit I struggled somewhat getting this thing up on there it took me a good part of an hour - researching prices on Amazon and from other Ebay sellers, taking photos, trying to write a description of it etc. Then I lost it and had to start again. My main aim was to get a Buy it Now price up there which I definitely did. I definitely pressed Buy it Now and put in a price. Definitely. Fast forward to this morning 6 hours before the auction finishes and it's going for £1.21. What a plonker.

To rid of my frustration I decided a run was in order. Looking back to my list of things 'to do' I had put down some more running events and so we've signed up to the Cambridge Half Marathon in March. The running shoes are back on and it couldn't have been a more beautiful morning for it. For me, Cambridge is one of the most delightful places in the sunshine and with copper coloured leaves gently swaying in the brisk wind and the sensational smell of cool damp and fires heating houses, it really felt like Autumn had arrived. One of the best times of the year.

I'm now sat here with my date, almond and banana breakfast smoothie, (I'm making my way through the Deliciously Ella collection from the website and her app - such lovely recipes) they really are a great way to (re)start the day. My main aim for today is to find what it really is I want to do with my career and I am determined to produce a shortlist or something of that nature. I better get researching whilst listening to a bit of Taylor Swift's 'Shake it Off'.

Have a delicious day.

Lizzie x

'Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted'

I have recently left my job in teaching and am currently waiting to pursue a new career. During this interim period, I have been given the gift of time. Throughout my teacher training and the career that followed my one complaint was that of not having enough time to ‘do things’. What these things were exactly I am not entirely sure. One aim when leaving the profession was to use this time I now had to ‘do things’ but as of yet I don’t believe I have achieved this goal. Autumn is upon us now and Autumn solutions seem to be a thing at the moment so I’m going to use this blog to make some.

I’ve made a list of some ‘things’ I am determined to start using my time doing and am hoping having a blog with them written down on will help me(?!)

This is the list I have developed so far sat in my favourite coffee shop in Cambridge - Hot Numbers.

Baking - I say I love to bake but only really do the basics. We bought a Kmix on Sunday and it needs to be utilised. I need to learn to bake properly and start experimenting. So that’s what I’m going to do. 

Photography - My Dad gave us a Canon SLR camera last year and I’m ashamed to say I have never learnt to use it properly and in all honesty don’t even really take it out very much. I’m going to get onto some Youtube tutorials and start taking some decent pictures.

Walking - The above leads quite nicely onto this. Living in Cambridge, we are surrounded by beautiful countryside. I’m going to start exploring and taking my camera with me. Walking and nature are supposed to be good for the soul and I’m going to discover how true this is.

Gardening - We have a rather large garden and it’s in a bit of a pickle. Within the year and a half we’ve lived here, I’ve been out and done something in it once. For about an hour. Shameful. I’m going to get in touch with nature. Start caring for the plants, actually learning what a weed is and getting rid of it. 

Reading new books - I have always loved reading but over the past few years have claimed I haven’t had enough time for it. This is definitely not true now and I’m going to start reading more. I’m currently on Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and it’s great. Any other must reads are most welcome.

Watching classic films - When I lived with my sister in Brighton a few years ago we made a list of classic films we knew we should have watched -The Graduate, Trainspotting, The Big Labowski, Pulp Fiction… I’m going to continue with this list and start watching more. Any suggestions for titles are most appreciated. 

Running more - Exercise is something I enjoy doing and is one of the few things I have done more of in my ‘free time’. In March we took part in the Liverpool Half Marathon and despite near heart failure and a small breakdown half way through, I did actually enjoy it and would like to do more events like it. 

This is just the start of my list. I’m going to continue adding to it. Any ideas or suggestions are always welcome. I’m off to try some baking with Kenneth the Kmix and then watch the next episode of Greys (one has to wean themselves off these addictions). 

Lizzie x