Weightloss- Pilates

While I am going strong with the C25K plan, I have found myself feeling guilty on the other two days of the week when I am not working out! So I thought, what could be better for a future bride than an exercise which is purported to tone and reposture?!...So, I have decided to take up pilates! The very thing that Pippa Middleton is supposed to have done to achieve this...

FHM

Anything that can make you look this svelte in white, must be worth a shot eh? In particular, I would really like to improve my posture which can make you look up to a stone lighter anyway! As well as flexibility and my arms and shoulders. These will be the areas most on show on my 'Big Day' so i thought I would start with them.

But, as I am unsure how I will take to this unknown world of Pilates I was reluctant to pay out for a DVD or fitness classes (I've got a wedding to pay for don'tcha know!) . So at the moment, as a beginner, I am using the wonderful world of youtube...wonderful for two reasons 1) It's free and 2) It is in the privacy of your own home, so nobody has to be embarrased at my early attempts at twisting my body in ways that are somewhat unnatural! (ahem!) 

Anyhooo...these are what I have been using so far. I find that they are really manageable for beginners, and all the steps are explained really well. I start each session with a five minute warm up and end with a 5 minute cool down:

10 mins Pilates Sculpting

10 mins Pilates Flex

So far I am really enjoying this form of exercise...it is gentle and yet invigorating...I am really hoping that in 13 months time, my shoulders and arms will be nicely toned and my posture will have improved. 

Softest Skin Challenge 2 - Garnier Intensive 7 days Review

As part of my quest to get silky smooth skin for my wedding day, I have been reviewing moisturising body lotions.This fortnight I have been reviewing Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Ultra-Softening Lotion with L-Bifidus (certainly won't be winning any prizes for most catchy product name!) Again to make it fair, i applied the lotion once a day after my am shower, for two weeks, and have not read any previous reviews on this product which may bias my opinions.

This product claims to make the 'skin feel hydrated for up to 7 days' It contains L-Bifidus which it claims 'helps the skin to reinforce it's natural protective barrier, locking in moisture.'

The one that I have contains Shea Butter and is for dry to extra-dry skin. (£2.99 for 250ml)

Superdrug

The Scent

I really like the indulgent and luxurious scent of this moisturiser. The deep shea butter scent is extremely pampering, and makes you feel extremely special when you apply. On the other hand, I would prefer this deep and luxurious scent in the evenings and a more invigorating, fruity scent after my morning shower (when i typically tend to apply my body moisturiser) I would describe such a rich scent as Shea Butter as a relaxing smell rather than a fresh, 'ready for the day' scent. But that is merely my personal preference. Thankfully, the scent wears off after an hour or so, so you are not left with the rich, heavy scent all day (something that may become quite sickly) In summary it is a pleasant scent, but very rich and luxurious for everyday wear.

The application

I was surpised at the consitency of this product. With a huge claim such as '7 days hydration' i was expecting a toothpaste like consistency that took about an hour to rub in. But no, it is the same, lotion like consistency that you would expect from a daily moisturiser. Very quick and easy to apply, and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue...a huge plus for a summer moisturiser.

The effect

After my expectations about the consistency were quashed, i couldn't possibly see how a moisturiser with such a light consitency and non greasy application could possibly keep me hydrated for any more than a couple of hours...this is the real beauty of this product...it does! Each evening, i would get into my pyjamas and marvel at my still silky smooth legs and arms! As far as the seven days claim goes...it's hard for me to say because I applied it daily, but i certainly wouldn't be surprised if it lasted a few days.

Summary

This is an extremly affordable product that does what it says on the tin. It is wonderfully easy to apply and absorbs brilliantly. The only thing that stopped it from getting full marks is the rich scent which is not really suitable for daily use. However, if and when I repurchase and am not under the constraints of a fair test, I would apply it in the evenings before bed.

Score

9/10 would definitely repurchase!

Mood Board

I have been thinking about the colour theme for my special day wonder if it's obvious what I am going for...

How-to-make-your-wedding-green

The Loveliest Day

MSN

Queen is a girl

Wedwebtalks

The Knot

Yes I am going for green! I am not entirely sure what shade of green yet, but think it compliments the natural autumnal theme that we have decided on...perhaps mixed with some browns, it is going to be really harmonious and calming...something that I will really need! 

Our Wedding...

I am very happy to announce that our wedding is booked!! It is on 28th Sept 2012...an autumn wedding just as i had always dreamed, but early enough not to be affected by the clock changes. It was such a relief when we booked, feels like a major job is done!

I will be announcing more details soon...about the venue and type of wedding that we have chosen...but for now, it's booked! :)

Weightloss - Couch to 5K

Every bride wants to look her very best on her big day... and I would guess that for about 80% of women, this would involve losing weight and toning up. In order to achieve weight loss, one must engage in aerobic activity, somthing that gets the heart pumping and the muscles working. The more energy an exercise requires, the more calories are burned, and the more weight is lost.

Web geek journal

I have been on the search for the perfect workout. Something that is effective and burns plenty of calories, but is also enjoyable and invigorating. I have recently completed a 16 week course on a stationary bike that I have at home, and as a result lost 16lbs which amounts to 1lb a week. I thought that this was a small amount until I found out that you have to eat 3,500 fewer calories a week to lose 1lb...so to steadily lose this for 16 weeks is an achievement that I am proud of. However, when I came to the end of this course I needed to find something new. See that is my problem, I can't just exercise for exercise sake...I have to have a target to work towards and a timed goal to reach in order to feel motivated. Which is why i was so happy when i discovered the Couch 2 5K initiative from the NHS.


Couch to 5K is basically a running programme for those that are relatively new to running. It is a nine week programme designed to take you from sedentary to running 5k three times a week. It is completely free, with downloadable podcasts that actually take you through each run step by step.

C25K

My Review...

I am currently on week 2 of the programme and so far I love it. I can't believe that I am running! I have never been very athletic, and have always hated running. But this makes it so easy!

During week 1 you warm up with a brisk walk for 5 minutes and then do intervals of 60 seconds running and 90 seconds walking for twenty minutes, before ending with a 5 minute cool down walk. (Don't get me wrong, i did find it extremely tiring, but nowhere near as unbearable as I expected) by the end of the week one runs you will have ran for 8 minutes per run. 

Week 2 involves the same 5 minute warm up and cool down, but this time you run for 90 seconds and walk for two minutes, meaning that you are running for a total of 12 minutes per session.  In just these two weeks, i have noticed a huge improvement in my fitness. (And will get weighed on Friday to find out whether it has made any difference in that respect.)

The podcast itself is great, with a really good narrator, and great motivating music.

All in all, I am really enjoying this programme which is perfect for the summer months, and genuinely increases fitness quickly and safely. 10/10 (so far!)

Church Vs Registry Office Vs Hotel....which is best?

One of the first decisions that a newly engaged couple have to make, is quite possibly the biggest decision...where to hold the wedding ceremony. Gone are the days when people would just marry in their local church, with the ceremony overseen by a vicar/priest whom their family has known for years. Marriage is big business these days, and there are many different options available. Settings to suit every taste and budget, and the decision lies largely on the sort of wedding that is desired. The choice goes way beyond the three settings that i intend to discuss here...with many people opting for beach weddings in the Caribbean, old English castles or even glitzy Vegas affairs. However, the three options that were ever really a reality for us (both in terms of budget and desire) were a church, a registry office or a hotel, and so I can speak from personal experience when discussing these options.


A Church Wedding...
A church ceremony offers the comfort of a traditional wedding, one that is straight forward and simple, with a layout that was designed for exactly this purpose. Churches, are more often than not, beautiful, eccentric buildings...that need little or no decorative attention to make it wedding worthy. They also, of course, offer the religious element to a wedding that no other setting can offer. If you are a religious person, then having a process with as much significance as a wedding, take place in a religious building, overseen by a religious professional, is a top priority. And if i were more of a practicing Christian, then a Church would have been my setting of choice. However, I am not, and therefore choosing a church based on it's 'traditional' feel and beautiful architecture, felt...well a little bit wrong...and very very hypocritical. (To me personally) Furthermore, religious elements aside, I have sat through many a church wedding service in my life, and been absolutely bored out of my brain! They are so long and drawn out...and the last thing I want my guests to be thinking is..."goodness this is taking a long time! In summary...Churches are beautiful, traditional, ready made wedding settings...but it is important to remember that they are not there for aesthetic or ergonomic reasons, and it is perhaps wise to think about putting yourself and your guests through a service which is mainly focussed on the sacred nature of marriage in the eyes of God if you are not a religious person.

Pixcellence

Registry Office...
Registry Offices are perhaps the setting of choice in the 21st century. The ceremony is quick and simple...leaving more time for you to get on with the bit that makes a wedding enjoyable...the reception! They are also very reasonably priced...costing around £40 - £50 to hire for the ceremony, meaning that they are perhaps the best choice for those on a tight budget. There are also no religious connotations, and the service is enitrely secular. However, you do get what you pay for, and registry offices are often plain or ugly buildings set in city or town centres; hardly every little girl's dream. There is no big deal made out of the ceremony, which may suit some people, but for me, surely that is the whole point of this, the most important, and hopefully happiest day of your life...it should be a big deal! I went to a wedding very recenty in a registry office, and when we arrived, the wedding before was still in process...when we were taking photographs after the ceremony the next one had taken place and was wanting use of the gardens for their photography! It was like a factory line, get you in and out as quickly as possible. In summary, registry offices are quick, cheap and fuss free...but don't expect to be made to feel like a princess...you definitely get what you pay for!

npt.gov.uk

The Hotel...

In theory the hotel combines the best of both worlds. It can be a beautiful setting like a Church, and as the entire day is dedicated to your wedding you are still made to feel like the blushing beauty that you are. The ceremony is short and music and readings can be personalised and unique. The fact that the entire day is in one location makes it easier for all involved, and saves the need to splurge on wedding transport. You can also expect to be given the assisstance of a wedding planner. Having said that, this can be a pricey option, costing anything from £200 - £600 to hire the hotel for the ceremony, as well as around £300 to get the registrar to come and perform the service. Furthermore, unlike the church and the registry office, this is less about marriage for legal or religious reasons, and more about the hotel gaining as much profit as possible. In summary a hotel offers a unique and pampered day in beautiful surroundings...but they'll make you pay for the privelage!

Weddings Venice

The fact is, that there is no possible answer to this question. It all depends on the individual, their priorities and what sort of wedding they want/ budget they have. Overall, there are advantages and disadvantages involved in all three options, and various other options available for consideration...it certainly is an enjoyable process in the meantime though!

Softest Skin Challenge 1 - Jergen's Naturals Daily Moisturising Review.

Every bride wants the skin on her body to look it's most glowing and feel it's softest on her big day. After all, your guests are likely to be scrutinising every inch, and there will be hugs and embraces a-plenty. To get my skin looking and feeling it's best for my wedding day I am going to spend the next few months testing and reviewing moisturising body lotions.

For the past fortnight I have been using Jergens Naturals Daily Moisturising with Acai Berry (£4.99 for 200ml). Which claims to provide "long lasting moisture for visibly smoother, softer skin." In order to make it a fair test I will use each moisturiser at the same time every day - after my morning shower, and for the same amount of time - 2 weeks. At the end, I will score each product out of a possible 10.

Jergens Naturals

The Scent

Let me begin with what to me is the best aspect of this product, and that is the scent. It is WONDERFUL! Every morning, the scent of this has been enough to make me feel like a pampered princess, something that every bride deserves to feel. It is fruity and luxurious, and as Acai berry is not a scent you come across every day, feels like something completely different, and therefore special.

The Application

The formulation of this lotion is thick and creamy enough that a little goes a long way, but smooth enough to make application quick and easy. It takes a while to rub it in, but dries reasonably quickly, without leaving skin feeling sticky. Hours after applying, my skin still feels moisturised, and I can still smell the to-die-for scent of the product.

After two weeks

I can't really say that my skin looks visibly smoother as the product claims. But it certainly feels much softer, and smells divine! Having said that, there is enough product left for at least another 2 weeks use (from a 200ml bottle), so perhaps after that time, I will notice some improvement in the appearance of my skin.

Summary

Things I loved about this product: The Smell!, the texture is just right for quick application with a luxurious effect, the fact that a little goes a long way, contains 97% natural ingredients and it is cruelty free.

Things that could be improved: the claims that it visibly improves appearance of the skin have been a bit fruitless with me.

Score - 8/10 (And I would purchase again)

The Story of Our Engagement.

Stu and I met way back in Primary school. We lived in the same area, and were part of the same group of friends that used to play together as children both in school and out. We lost contact when we first went to secondary school, until one day at age thirteen idecided to 'knock for him' and see what he's been up to. We spent a lot of time together that summer, like old days. Doing the typical thing that thirteen year olds do, of starting a relationship, only to get bored after a few days and then ending and moving onto one of their friends! However, on New Years' Eve 2001, Stu asked me out...and I said yes...and we have been together ever since. We went to college together, learned to drive and bought our first car together, went on holidays, and at the age of 18 left our home town, and went to university together! 5 years later and both graduates, we live together in a cute little cottage on the outskirts of our university town. We still do all the things that 23 year olds do...girls/boys nights out, date nights, cosy nights in...and everything is great!

On 26th December 2010, unknown to me, Stu was working up the courage to ask my dad if he approved of us getting married. (More of a mark of respect than actual permission) And during a family Christmas get together, he asked me to marry him, in front of all my family. (A huge feat for someone who is quite shy, as he is) The rest...as they say...is history, and we are now on the next big journey of our relationship, with the added benefit of having already been together for 10 years, lived together for 5, so we both know that it is definitely what we want. I am so excited about this new journey!

allwedding

Dreaming of Autumn

For as long as I can remember, Autumn has been my favourite season.There is just something so magical about the wonderful colours, scents, sounds and tastes of Autumn, that is lacking in all of the other seasons. In the UK, the transistion stage from summer to winter is quite a short one, and so must be savoured and appreciated for all that it's worth! 

BeautyImage

For this reason, my girlhood dreams of weddings were not sunshine filled and green...but brown, orange, glistening and cool...with me as a chestnut haired bride with an ivory gown rustling through the autumn leaves. With deep red wine and luxurious hog roast.

Gilbert and Evans

On the practical side too, Stu is rubbish during the summer, suffering from hayfever, and just getting generally fed-up during the summer months. Your guests are likely to have a pretty hectic wedding calendar throughout the summer, and will probably appreciate a change of scenery, from the usual cliched set-up. And if that is not enough of a motive, you can expect to save anything from 10% - 50% off the cost of your wedding for booking outside of peak wedding season...to be honest, i find it hard to believe that anyone would want to consider any other time of year...but that's just me...

ecooccasions



Endless Possibilities...

Firstly, let me introduce myself. I am Laura, 23 from the East Midlands, UK. I am currently experiencing the most exciting process in my life so far...I AM GETTING MARRIED! My partner and I have been together for almost 10 years...and finally at the age of 23 we decided that people might actually take us seriously if we bit the bullet decided to get married. Well actually, Stu (my partner) decided this when he asked me to marry him on 26th December 2010. So here we are in July 2011 and things are really beginning to get underway!