Weekend Friday Favourites

I start my photography course next week and true to form like a kid who’s left their homework to the last minute, I’ve still to learn photographic terms in English and Spanish so at least I have an idea what the teacher’s on about. It’s not like I’ve had about 5 weeks to learn them and brush up on my Spanish. Thankfully it’s a basic course but I still feel I need to learn the photographic terms in both languages so I have an understanding as I’ll be at a disadvantage it’s not in my mother tongue. Last minute as always! 

Anyways Weekend Friday Favourites, things that have made me smile or caught my eye the past few weeks. Basically things I might be slightly obsessed with and as I missed last weeks, chit chat to a minimum.

Zara Kids Quilted NON DOWN Gilet

I recently rediscovered my gilets or body warmers sorting out my wardrobe a few weeks ago and thought they’re the perfect solution to keeping warm in the apartment during the winter. I love in the daytime to have the balcony door and windows open as I don’t the feeling of being cooped up or stale air (nighttime they’re shut) and at night the air con’s on for a quick blast to warm the place up before relying on the portable oil heater in the living room. Other rooms you add layers. Electricity’s notoriously expensive in Spain and polar bears bare the brunt of winter air conditioning via global warming. I do like my Mum says the Queen does, add another layer! Anyways, I was previously wearing thick cardigans or blanket like cardigans but they left me feeling frumpy and bulky. With a gilet I’m equally as warm if not warmer and have more freedom/range of movement. A t-shirt, warm jumper, leggings and a gilet and I’m toasty. It’s not glam, but I’m warm! Make up marks to be clean with 100% alcohol.

Buff 

I think most worldwide endurance runners, cyclists, motorbikers, walkers and especially the Spanish know about Buff scarves or have one similar. Designed by a Spanish trail motorbiker who worked in textiles he wanted a scarf that could work in all weather, keep you cool in the summer, warm in the winter, keep its shape, be multifunction, wash easily and not unravel. Like the gilet, I’ve been wearing one around the house to keep warm. Again my Mum’s advice sometimes all you need is a scarf to add that extra layer warmth without over heating or freezing. It’s a seamless polyester microfibre breathable tube that’s so lightweight I hardly know it’s there and neither does it get in the way. It can be worn as neck scarf, bandana, beanie, balaclava, neckerchief, wristband, headband, mask, hair tie the list goes one! The pink one was a freebie from an event I went to years ago with the black one another freebie from last years Buff Epic Run. The black one which I prefer to the pink (different weight and texture) I’ve used running and it’s perfect at stopping the cold going down your neck without feeling like it’s choking you. It wicks away sweat easily and only takes about 5 minutes or less to dry. 

Handmade Penguin Purse

A Christmas present from my sister. I love it so much, I don’t want to use it and make it dirty! My sister’s an amazing knitter, cross stitcher and sewing lady creating beautiful pieces (she got it from my Mum and her Mum, however unlike them she doesn’t make clothes). I keep telling her to set up an Esty or notonthehighstreet store, but she says she’s not good enough. She more than is!

Barcelona Zoo

I made the zoo gates!

Itchy chin

 

Sunrises

A few I’ve been around for have been quite something.

Winter Geraniums

 

None have stopped flowering since the summer.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

I’m on my 3rd one and can’t get enough of it. Cruelty free and even with my at times wrinkly, puffy eyelids I can get 9 out of 10 a good kitten flick. It stays put nearly all day and though HIIT workouts and runs.

The Moon And The Sea

The sea’s been a little feisty this week and the 1st full moon of year’s nearly here.

AJ and D

D found the scanner and Aj on one of the rare occasions he’s sat willingly in a cat bed. 

Squat With Opposite Elbow To Knee Crunch

I think sometimes once you’ve mastered a basic squat you add weights and forget how effective a basic squat can be. Leave them a while, squat with weight, go back to them and you’ll see an improvement as in you can squat lower and feel them! This is a body weight variation that not only hits the lower body but abs and obliques and balance. Squat down as low (as shown here in exercise E) as you can with hand behind your head, as you come up standing tall without jumping crunch or touch opposite knee to elbow, return to starting position and repeat the other side. Simple yet effective. If you wish to amp it up, explode up jumping keeping the torso (keeping good posture as always) tall when crunching or add extra resistance with a medicine ball, kettlebell, dumbbell or weight held in front of chest instead of behind the head or without a weight clasping hands in front of chest and twisting more in the crunch.

What’s been making you smile recently? Have a great week!

Squat with opposite elbow to knee crunch images taken from Google Images.