I can’t believe Mr AJ’s 14 today. Handsome from the day he fitted in the palm of my hands and he knows it. Everyday he likes to be told how good looking, gorgeous and handsome he is. Happy Birthday Batman!
I hope you’re having a great weekend! Weekend Friday Favourites, things that have caught my eye or made me smile. I missed last weeks, this one might be a little longer than usual.
Hot Water
After a week and half of no hot water, I got hot water back Thursday along with a brand spanking new boiler! Just in time as Spring’s all but disappeared. I called my Mum Friday and said this time last year I was in shorts and a t-shirt. This year I’m still in leggings, scarf and spring jacket, to which she replied it’s like summer here. I checked the weather for the UK and it is indeed around 21-24+C. That’s Spring here. I blame El Niño. Dear UK, please return Spring ASAP.
Spring Flowers
As much as I don’t like rain and clouds days for days on end, flowers do.
I’ve been wearing Fabletics leggings for about a year now and love them! Recently I’ve been brave enough to experiment with patterned capris (I over heat if I run or train in leggings). I usually stick to black with a bit of colour or black detail. Europe doesn’t have the same choice of workout clothes that the USA has, no where near. We get limited choice in the big name fitness brands in weird colours that I always think look dated pretty quickly. Many high street fashion shops here are filling the gap for cute colourful workout clothes now have their own fitness lines. But it’s just that, fashion. It never feels like it can handle what I do. So when Fabletics released last month Reef and Malibu (palm print) prints I couldn’t resist and took the plunge! And love them, especially the reef print which seems to be a new type of fabric that wicks even better than their usual fabric. They also give a bit of sass which is why I ended up showing them off standing on a changing room bench getting a full length shot. My gym changing room doesn’t have a full length mirror so I had to get creative seconds before the changing room got busy. I didn’t want to be that girl taking selfies in the changing room or in the gym. I posted on Twitter via Instagram and to my surprise, Fabletics noticed 🙂
Tone It Up Bikini Series 4 Bundle
If you buy their nutrition plan you automatically become a member, with any additional nutrition plans updates, new challenges completely free (I purchased it back in 2011!). You also get membership discounts on bundles for a limited time before they go on sale to the public. While you can buy Beach Babe DVD 4 separately when they released it last month, they included a bundle and well, I was like okay, take the money! Included was the digital download of Beach Babe 4, a beach towel, beach ball, lunch box, socks, beach bag, log diary for the duration of the Bikini Series (which is great to track food as I’m doing at the moment), cat not included. The DVD’s great, I do the workouts on a Saturday and are already using some moves in my own workouts. Bonus; it didn’t get stuck in customs and took about a week and a half to arrive.
Straddle Bench Jump Squats And Side Lunge Cleans With A Knee Lift
I’m still trying to workout exactly which exercise Monday made my quads talk loudly all week. I haven’t had some DOMS in ages and it felt good in a way only those who like DOMS know. Straddle bench squat jumps are quite easy, I used 4 blocks, starting straddling over the step and landing in a 1/2 squat (seen here) for 30 seconds. Side lunge cleans with a knee lift, side lunge right with a weight in left hand. When returning to starting position feet together, clean the weight to a shoulder press with an optional right knee lift (10 reps either side). It was one of those 2 moves that let me know I had quads
Zoo Barcelona
I’ve been lucky to make the zoo on one of the few sunny Spring days.
Big cats, little cats, they all love yoga
Ugly ducking doesn’t just apply to swans. First flamingo chicks of the year!
Internet Finds:
YouTube:
Vogue’s 73 Questions with Jessica Sarah Parker and Taylor Swift. Always love SJP’s voice!
Dog learns to walk and run again thanks to prosthetic legs.
Former Peruvian and Colombian circus animals find a new home in a South Africa wildlife sanctuary thanks to Animal Defenders International (Peru in 2011 banned circus animals). 33 lions and tigers will get to live out their days in a near to wild habitat. Part 1 here, part 2 here.
National Geographic: An unlikely sanctuary for lions, tigers and bears in Colorado.
US coast guard dogs get helicopter proficiency training. I think they know how just cool they look in their aviators.
What’s been making you smile this week? Have a great week!