Day zero project #3 complete

Random piccie at Whitley Bay from the hen do

Yes, last night I was away from the blog and getting out of the way the third completion of a day zero project goal: climbing an indoor rockface.

God knows why I chose this. I cried last time I did an aerial rope course.
I was nervous that I wouldn't like it because of the heights and couldn't do it because of my non-existent upper body strength and thunderous yet disappointingly weak thighs
I went to Awesome Walls in Stockport. 
The boyf and his friends had to hold my hand through it, showing me what to do and how to do the knots which was very kind of them and I am massively grateful to them for being patient with me.

Anyway, I went up the "baby" wall twice and also went up one of the smaller normal size walls twice. I was also the buddy person/b-line person for my trusting friend S. This should have been a whole other goal of its own! 

When being the B-line(I don't know what its called) basically the person on the ground has to take up the slack on the rope so that the climber doesn't fall. You then have to let the rope out when the climber is ready to come back down. 
Writing it down make it looks so easy, I am truly a moaning minnie. Its just holding the rope...

I have no photos, sorry, but I have many eyewitnesses.

 I can't say I enjoyed it as I was far out of my comfort zone, I feel proud I've done it and that's it. However I would go again, you can't decide if you like something after 1.5hours. I'm slow at warming up to things and becoming proficient at things so lets see how it goes and how my interest grows or not.

Toodle pip all. I'm waiting for a cake to bake that will not firm in the middle. Bugger.

Sunny x

bangers

No not you Miley. Trot off..

We went to the banger racing at buxton raceway on Monday.
It was a bank holiday family fun day.
It was a cheap way to see racing as entrance was only £13 for adults. 
Here is  one of the bangers in all its glory + you can see the countryside in the background. As they say themselves: "thrills in the hills"

 There was top notch food. That gravy was delicious and so warmed me up

There is also a licensed bar there! I didn't drink to show solidarity to my designated driver (the boyf) but had the sun been out, a cider would have well done the job. 

As it were, stuck to hot choccie with marshmallows.

 There was also serious racing by these F2 stock cards. They go fast.











I also loved the personality on the cars. Check our Mr Peougot/Peugout/Purjoe/who on earth can spell this stupid word? P-E-U-G-E-O-T.

Scary devil eyes car. The driver was doing donuts on the tarmac when I took this photo. See- everyone was having fu-un!

 

 An old capri with a model pigeon on the roof. Inspired choice and colour of the car. Who doesn't love purple?

 Caravan demolition derby finished the day. This was such a silly thing, it was so much fun. 
I totally want to ruin a clapped out caravan too.

And look at the views of the moors of the way there and back. It was up the Cat and Fiddle road and the countryside up there is harsh and beautiful. Loved it.

Go to the banger racing and have a laugh, you will love it.

Sunny L x

Mary Berry banana muffins

I had over-ripe bananas to use up so  I made the wonderful MB's banana and choc chip muffins this morning.

I got the recipe from the Daily Mail website actually:

Mary-Berry-food-special-Banana-amp-chocolate-chip-cupcakes.html

Aren't I impressive with the massive variety of colours I managed to get from the 1 tray of 12 muffins?
They are lovely as you would imagine from Mary B.

I've only eaten 1 in a super-human feat of willpower as I'm holding out for a meal out tonight. Will update tomorrow.

I not only watched Xmen at the flicks yesterday but I also watched Frozen on blue-ray that I was lent from my lovely work mate. I had to get it watched as she's back from hols on Tuesday and the last DVD she lent me, I had for 2 years (no exaggeration, I promise). 
This was my chance to prove I was worthy of being lended-to on future occasions.

So that's my F film done and I wanted to watch it to see what the fuss is about this latest Disney. Was a good job Disney team.

I am starving and have Come Dine with Me on the TV so its just increasing my starvaciousness.

I've gone monochrome for tonight with my new H&M £10 skirt. Also got some neck bling that I have worn every day since I bought it. £16.50 Dorothy Perkins.

It definitely perks up an outfit and a rainy day.

Ready to stuff myself now. Oh yes, bring it on.

Sunny xx

Book + film reviews

Its raining, its a bank holiday. 

What else to do than read and go to the cinema?

Two things I've just finished.

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty. I liked the first half - it was the story of an affair between 2 married people but there is a court case in the second half that I found dragged a bit especially because we knew the story of the case already. 

I think court cases in books only work when the narrator is one of the lawyers so you get to know about them deciding their arguments and strategising - its not about the story, its about the lawyering.

Michael Connelly who wrote the Lincoln Lawyer does it really well. His books are thoroughly recommended.

Image from http://louisedoughty.com/apple-tree-yard/

X-men Days of Future Past. So-so.
I think its only worth about 4/10.
Why do film franchises always have to resort to time travel to mix it up a bit?
If you like action, there is not a lot in there. I was waiting for it to get going, but it didn't.

Image from showfilmfirst.com

On the plus point, one of my day zero project goals is to watch a film with every letter of the alphabet and how many films are there that start with X?

We topped off the film with a Nandos, which seems to be an annual trip. Annually is often enough as I think Nandos is over-rated, don't we all just do it at home with rotisserie chicken and some sauce anyway?

Stay dry, Sunny x
 

veganicious

Hello!
Eaten my last meal of my 7days of vegandom.
Goal 2 of day zero project done. Yay!

What I've eaten this past week

FRIDAY
porridge with almond milk
coconut cake
banana
mushroom pasty
Linda Mcartney sausages, carrot salad, carrot + tomatoes
Whisky + coke

SATURDAY
porridge with almond milk 
seed bar + banana - light lunch due to yoga workshop
coconut cake
homemade falafels (gross, didn't work as I don't have a food processor) with avocado, tomato
beer

SUNDAY
bran flakes with soya milk
banana
avocado salad wrap
coconut cake
thai red curry (mangetout, sweetcorn, asparagus)

MONDAY
Coconut cake
Mango
hummus sandwich with tomatoes and lettuce
ready salted crisps
mushroom wrap

TUESDAY
coconut cake
hummus sandwich with tomatoes and lettuce
Indian takeaway - veggie bhuna + tarka dhal + chips + rice

WEDNESDAY
Coconut cake
leftover Indian takeaway
tomato tart with 1/2 avocado + salad leaves
caramel soya dessert - tastes like coffee

THURSDAY
Salted cashews
ready salted crisps
1/2 avocado with 3 Linda Mcartney sausages
apple
caramel soya dessert
asparagus, lemon, veg, garlic spaghetti  pasta
caramel soya dessert

Goodbye vegan-ness, it was ok but we could never be full time lovers.

Sunny x
 

feels liks Wednesday

Yes it does feel like Wednesday.
I was >this< close to having a beer but restrained myself cause its only Tuesday.

I did however have a takeaway for tea as I could not face cobbling together another vegan meal.
I had veggie bhuna and tarka dal. I was really excited for the onion bhaji but couldn't partake as I was worried it would be made with an egg batter. Bummer. 
On a happy note, got leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Woohoo!

This was the view from my sun lounger on Sunday. I was enjoying it for 5 hours on Sunday. It was brilliant. Starting reading another (non-friend-recommended) book which kept me easy company.

I was so sore after my epic yoga session - I didn't feel right til this morning. I could feel it between my shoulder blades. Ow. Ow. Worth it though.

Did you know JLo is also now a vegan? and Bill Clinton and, on occasion, Beyonce and JayZ. I will not be joining them beyond my 7 days. I value my milky coffee in the morning too much.

Look at my lush pink pointy shoes. I love shoes with a point.

Doesn't it go well my Julian McDonald Asda Tickled Pink bag for life? I was in a George changing room as I had a traumatic 5 minutes trying on cropped trousers. They are NOT friend to a pear shaped lady. I took one for the team and tried them but do not follow my lead.

Keep trundling on.

SunnyL xx

Vegan + pain

Yay! Hottest day of the year! Loving it!
I have been dressed for it all week already - no tights on for 3 days.

But guess who signed up for a 5 hour yoga class inside a warm studio today. Genius.


I did manage to sunbathe outside for the 30mins needed to finish my book The Book Thief

Image from bookwormsavenue.blogspot.com

You see one of my day zero project goals is to read 20 books recommended by friends. This was one recommended by Sam.

I didn't fancy it because I thought it was about children and I therefore wouldn't have read it if it weren't for this goal. The main characters are kids but they are poor kids in Nazi Germany so they are very worldy wise and the main character has her innocence taken at a very young age. I was crying at the end, but it was a beautiful tale. 

I don't think I will watch the film though as I don't like sad.

Thank you goal for getting me to read it. 1/20th of the way there. I am scared about my next recommended book so it may be a few months until I report back on it...

Yoga has impacted on me big style so just going to stew on the settee for the rest of the evening. A bit anxious how stiff I will feel tomorrow.

Sunny L x

Vegan day zero project

TGI Friday!

Right, well on 9th March I set the timer on my day zero project.
You can sign up too at http://dayzeroproject.com/
I first found out about it on this blog, so thank you for inspiring me! http://opalheartedcountry.blogspot.co.uk/

The project is a mini bucket list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. Better than an open-ended list because it has a relatively short deadline that spurs a lazy loafer on like me to actually get on and do it.

Example - I kicked off the project on 9th March. I completed my first task on 10th May (riding in a limo). That is 62 days to make a mini dent in the 101 goals. Shocking. They need to be completed at a rate of 1 task per 10 days. Too slow.

Anyway, goal #2 I'm tackling is being vegan for a week. 
Today is day uno. It is also cake day in work, which I'd have to miss out due to the egg content. I did not have the willpower for that so I made a vegan cake for myself.
Here is my coconut cake. The recipe is from here http://essentialvegan.co.uk/coconut-cake/

Its so nice I've ate about a quarter of it myself so far. No fear then that I might lose weight this week.

While shopping for vegan food, I also found these beers. Bud Light Lime! Sooo good. Perfect for a Thursday evening!

I'm already on Linda McCartney ready meals. I kindly took a photo so you could also see how "good" they look on the plate.....you know what those sausages look like!
I did a little carrot and orange salad on the side a la Jamie Oliver too.

I'm probably going to hit the sack now. Let's hear it for the weekend!

xx  Sunny

Normal, routine, everyday

Hello!
Tuesday and living the bridesmaid high life has come to a swift, sad end. Boo-oo.
Forced myself to go to yoga last night. My body is aching all over today and I felt like I would fall asleep at work. I had 3 coffees and 1 diet coke.
Sad that I had the diet coke.

When I was feeling sorry for myself on Sunday I bought a box of my favourite lollies. Twisters.

Look. Lime and pineapple with a strawberry centre.
Look how mini it is too. I actually ate 2 because they're mini so 1 portion = 2 mini lollies.

Is 10.05pm too late for an ice lolly? Probably. Won't bother today.

An ice lolly would have been good at this place. It was taken on our Whitley Bay day trip on the hen do.
We had lager and cider instead. Enjoyed it just as much as my twister.

Nowt else to report so I will leave you be and go and paint my nails.

xx Sunny L

Lazy Sunday

Hey there.
The amazing wedding was yesterday. My big bridesmaid moment has been and gone, sob.

We drank cava, prosecco and white wine.
I went in a limo! I could get used to having a chauffeur and a TV in my car.

I danced until my feet hurt BIG style.

The food was really tasty: vegetable tart with pesto sauce, Chicken in a white wine sauce. Dessert was this chocolate tort with raspberry puree. I ate every last thing and enjoyed it. I could eat that meal again today.

Then there was the cake. One of the bride's talented friends made it for her. The bottom layer was fruit, the middle was red velvet cake and the top layer was vanilla sponge. The icing was white chocolate. I loved it.
 
 
















I loved it so much we had extra portions today at lunchtime. It was just as good today. I wish we'd taken more.

You may have already guessed that red was the theme colour, I folded 30 of those favour boxes as my low-level contribution to the wedding brilliance. I feel I have missed my true calling as an origami artist.

Look at our amazing bacon and egg breakfast butties. I think they look like the creation of a man, which they were. Bread - tommy sauce - about half a dozen bacon slices - eggy bread - fried egg - tommy sauce - bread.

Wow. I'm going to try and make this myself for those mornings after the most memorable and happy days.

Everyone wants to re-do the day again, I have 250 photos to remember it by at least.

Today we are fit for nothing except more Desperate Housewives re-watching (now on series 5) and trying and failing to master photo editing suites. Frustrating.

I hope you are feeling chilled out and happy.

Sunny L x

Lunching ladies

Hello!
Day off today sans le boyfriend which I haven't done for about 2 years. It meant I could do full-on Sunny stuff. 

Had my hair done in the morning. Made the mistake of mixing in lowlights with my highlights. Here's a tendril of new hair colour making its way to Manchester city centre. I am the body in the flasher/Superman/stripper mac attached to the curly tendril.

Met up with the Bride for lunch at Trof in the Northern Quarter. Had a burger, she had beef brisket. I forgot to photograph the food, but here's my white wine soda. The burger was good, the fries were my fave thing though, thin + crispy + salty + herby. I demolished them.

We mooched about the shops. I bought this Essie nail varnish to wear at the wedding. This is with 3 coats. Its Not Just a Pretty Face colour. Of course, it was 3 for 2 on make-up at Superdrug and Boots so I also got a spare mascara and a Max Factor lip tint.

I picked up my bridesmaid shoes (lovely Bride was totally OK with it...she's the best). Went for the lower heel ones. We were thirsty again then so went to Revolution vodka bar just off Deansgate. Haven't been there since the night Michael Jackson died.

Drank Mango and raspberry rikorderlig. They put actual raspberries in it. Drinking with vitamins. Woop. The Bride drank Vedett beer. It was goood and has lemon and orange peel in it.

The bride's happy ever after flip flops arrived too. Ahhh.

I am back in work and reality tomorrow.

Sunny L xxx

still milking the weekend

Hey there.
Yesterday was spent at home.
Finished the hen party scrapbook, took me a few hours.
Popped out for a couple of drinkies last night with my petite friend K. Had a good chinwag.

Got home and I finished the night with oven priding my oven. Ooh lala.
This morning had the unenviable task of cleaning it out of the oven. Yes it looks better but I still begrudged this task.

The other 2 bridesmaids have bought these shoes:

Image and shoes from Debenhams.com

They are £50 so I've gone rogue and am not buying them because a) I don't like them b) I won't wear them again so £50 is too much c) they're that weird satin effect which will surely get stained so I can't sell them on.

Instead I have ordered the below and will be keeping one pair. They are both from House of Fraser and have 20% off in their flash sale. Result!

The bride will know about my contrary ways on Wednesday. I think she'll be cool as she's told us we can wear what we want. I'll let you know if she's not cool.

Get psyched for the week.

Sunny x

Raspberry cake + flowers

Hello there,

Had a nice early morning, which I was glad about because the day was fine!
Made a raspberry bakewell cake. I forgot to take a photo until there was only 1 piece left after we'd shared with family.

Recipe from: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11695/raspberry-bakewell-cake

I will be making it again as it was very simple and looked and tasted good.

We had a nice afternoon walk.

It was a meander around Croxteth Country Park. Here's the hall.

Saw some horse chestnut trees in bloom. I only took a photo of it because we were reminiscing about how awesome conker fights were when we were kids. Did you harden them in the airing cupboard or pickle them in vinegar before having your conker fights?

Rhodedendron flowers are so pretty and they ARE May for me. I can't wait for them all to be in bloom. 

It turns out I cannot spell that word properly. It's actually R-H-O-D-O not Rhode. Every day is a learning day.

2 more days of weekend goodness still to go.

Sunny xx

weekend well earned

I am fighting fatigue for 10mins longer! What a busy work week.
I exercised my little backside to the max (for me) too - Wednesday I had yoga, Thursday Zumba.

This evening I was dining alone....

a la Marks and Spencer. 3 for £6. Oriental drumsticks, chilli chicken wings and feta parcels.
Delightful.
Here's the naked chicken:

 

I was disappointed that I only managed half of the food. 

I think its because a kit kat chunky peanut butter made an appearance mid afternoon. Chocolate + PB are the match made in heaven, I always gorge when I'm in the USA as they have the most PB chocolate options.

I needed the lazy girl tea because I had a fruitless search for bridesmaid shoes at the Trafford Centre.

I only managed to buy some cards and my food.

Even Zara let me down. I like Zara because they only get the clothes in once and you have to grab it = highly unlikely that anyone else will have the same outfit. It's strength is also it's weakness though. There were NO size 10s left in the clothes that took my fancy + no online shopping = :(  AND people with orange foundation had naughtily tried on white tops and stained them with their skanky foundation.

Despite these disappointments, the chicken was very consoling to my soul even when not in soup form.

Bring on the Saturday xx Sunny